I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 1 

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UNITED STATES OF AIVIERICA. 



AN 



Epistle of Jesus Christ 



Faithful Soul, 

that is devoutly affe6led towards Him : 

Wherein axe contained certain divine infpirations 

teaching a man to know himfelf, and inflrudl- 

ing him in the perfe6lion of true Piety. 

Written in Latin by the devout fervant of Chrifl, 
Joannes Lanspergius, a Charter-Houfe Monk; 

and Tranflated into Englijlt by 

Lord Philip, XIXth Earl of Arundel, 

{Reprinted from the Edition of i6io.) 

Dedicated, by Permiflion, to 

HIS GRACE THE DUKE OF NORFOLK, 

Earl Marflial of England, &c., &c. 



A 




""s*^^ 




NEW YORK: 
CATHOLIC PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 

126, NASSAU STREET. 



Extradl fro^n the ''LiFE OF Philip 
Howard, Earl of Arundel," by 
His Grace the late Duke of Norfolk.{i) 

" But after his condemnation he fpent betwixt 
four and five hours every morning in prayer and 
meditation, and betwixt three and four in the after- 
noon. The reft of his time, excepting that Httle he 
fpent in walking or fome other corporal exercife 
appointed by the phyficians, he beftowed either in 
writing or tranllating books of piety. One book, 
Lanfpergius^ containing Alt Epijlle of J ejus 
Chriji to y^ Faithful Soul^ he tranflated out of 
Latm into Ejiglifh^ and caufed it to be printed, for 
the furtherance of devotion." — Page io6. 

" Philip Howard, nineteenth Earl of Arundel, was 
fon of Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, and the Lady 
Mary Fitz-Alan. This Book, and its author, are 
unnoticed by Walpole or Park. The latter and 
Mr. Heber affure me they have never heard of or 
feen another copy.'' — Note by Dr. Blifs, 

The above note is infide the cover of the copy in 
the Britifh Mufeum. A copy of this tranflation, 
however, is in the poffeffion of the Right Hon. 
Lord Petre. Another copy of the fame edition as 
that in the Britifh Mufeum (1610) is in the Library 
of the Dominican Priory, Woodchefter. Another 
copy (imperfedl) of an earlier edition, Antwerp, 
1595, is in the poffeffion of Alfred Blount, Efq. — 
Publifher's Note. 

(^) London : Kuril and Blackett, 1857. 



TO 

HIS GRACE, THE MOST NOBLE 

HENRY FITZ-ALAN HOWARD, 
DUKE OF NORFOLK, 

Earl Marshal, Premier Duke and Earl of England, 
&c. &c. &c. 

This Reprint of a Translation from the Latin 

OF JOANNES LANSPERGIUS, made by his 

most virtuous ancestor, that noble 

Confessor of the Faith, 

THE LORD PHILIP, XIXth EARL OF ARUNDEL, 

During his Captivity in the Tower of 
London, 

Is, by kind Permission, 

DEDICATED 

By his Obedient and Humble Servant, 

JOHN PHILP. 



The Epijlle Dedicatory. 

{Third Edition^ 1610.) 



TO 

THE REVEREND MOTHER 
AND DEVOUT POOR SISTERS 

Of the Holy Order of S. Clare, in the firfl 
Englifh Convent eredled in Graveling. 

|HIS brief but . moft excellent 
Epistle of Jesus Christ to 
THE Faithful Soul (Reli- 
gious Poor Sifters), worthy, no 
doubt, both of the Author's piety and 
Tranflator's virtue, being fo much by you 
and others defired, and now the third time 
printed, I have thought it both to your 
profit and for your confolation to prefent 
the fame unto you, as a mirror or looking- 
glafs, who, being now entered into the path 
of virtue, do earneftly endeavour to arrive 




vi The Epijlle Dedicatory, 

to the height of Chriftian Religious Per- 
feftion ; efpecially at this time, when al- 
moft all virtuous life and devotion in our 
country, by the unfortunate fway of Schifm 
and Herefy, lieth, as it were, languifhing, 
and fick even unto death itfelf. That by 
this means fome little fparks of piety may 
be conferved alive within the embers of 
your religious breafts, thereby to enkindle 
and inflame the hearts, not only of thofe 
who, by this your virtuous example, fhall 
follow your footfteps, but of others alfo 
into whofe hands this Golden Treatife, fo 
particularly due unto yourfelves for the 
rare documents of perfe6lion it containeth, 
fhall happily come. Our fweet Saviour 
increafe daily your earneft defire of Re- 
ligious Piety, and preferve you ever, Amen, 

Your fervant in Chrijl Jefus, 

I. W. Priejl, 



The Epijlle of the Author, 



TO 

THE VENERABLE MOTHER 

AND 

RELIGIOUS VIRGINS 

Of the Order called PremonJlrate7ifLs^ dedicated to 
Chrifl in the Monaflery of Hensberch. 

Joannes Lanspergius, 

Prior of the Carthufians, wijheth grace and 
peace, 

JO man I fuppofe to be fo ignorant 
(devout Virgins) as to think this 
enfuing fpeech or exhortation, 
afcribed to our Bleffed Saviour 
Chrift, was either fpoken by His own 
mouth or made by Him personally when 
He lived here on earth ; but that it is there- 
fore ftyled with fo glorious a title becaufe 
it containeth that very Do6lrine which is 
truly and really Chrift's, as His divine in- 




viil The Eptjlle of the Autlior. 

fpirations do daily witnefs. Which Doc- 
trine is not only felt inwardly in our hearts, 
but is alfo here fet down in charaflers, as 
if Chrifh Himfelf did feem to fpeak unto us, 
both in word and writing. And, indeed, 
man's mind is fo much the more vehe- 
mently ftirred up to liften and obey, by 
how much he doth now feel and receive 
this Do6lrine, as it were, not from man, but 
from Chrift. For who can doubt but that 
every doftrine doth fo much the more 
delight and perfuade the reader, by how 
much he who teacheth the fame is of 
greater dignity and eftimation ? Seeing, 
then, we greatly wifh that the hearts of all 
fuch as fhall read this book fhould be 
enlightened with the Spirit of Chrift, we do 
therefore perfuade all men to read the 
fame, not in our own but in Chrift's name, 
whereby every one may make himfelf 
worthy of fuch a Spirit. For the dulnefs 
of our Spirit, fo long as we remain in 
this our corruptible body, hath this pro- 
perty, that it is fooneft moved, ftirred 
up, and extended towards God with fen- 
fible things, and fuch as are more fami- 



The Epijlle of the Author. ix 

liar to human underftanding. And for this 
caufe hath the Holy Church received the 
divers ceremonies in her Divine Service 
which now-a-days fhe ufeth, as organs, 
fmging, and other the fundry ornaments 
thereof; as alfo in like manner are the 
Images and Pi6lures of Chrift and of His 
Saints, before which the common people 
do exercife their devotion ; as when, in be- 
holding them, they are either moved with 
the remembrance of Chrift's benefits to- 
wards them, or ftirred up to imitate their 
examples of fan6lity, or elfe, turning them- 
felves to Chrift, do offer up the wor- 
fhip of their devotion, not to ftocks or 
ft ones, but unto Him whofe perfon the 
image reprefenteth. For although we are 
not ignorant that the pi6lure of Chrift 
which we fee is not Chrift, yet, notwith- 
ftanding, the devotion of him that prayeth 
before it doth no otherwife worfhip it than 
Chrift Himfelf, whofe pi6lure it is ; becaufe 
his mind is not then carried (or fixed) upon 
the pifture, but upon Him whom it repre- 
fenteth. In like manner may this Epiftle 
or Exhortation of Jefus Chrift be read ; not 



X The Epijlle of the Author. 

for that it was either written or fpoken by 
Himfelf, but as it were by Him ; feeing 
that whatfoever is here either taught or 
faid is daily fpoken by Chrift inwardly to 
the devout foul, His Spoufe. 

You, therefore, devoted Virgins of Chrift, 
who have contemned the vanities of this 
world, read thefe Exhortations of your 
Spoufe, Chrift Jefus, which, by a fecret kind 
of infpiration(if you mark it) He continually 
breathes into your hearts. And in fo doing 
fhall you read thofe things whereof you 
may be inwardly admonifhed, if you will 
vouchfafe to give ear, and hearken what is 
faid. For that herein is contained a Rule 
to live rightly and pioufly in the fervice of 
God, inftru6ling you in all fpiritual con- 
verfation. And for this caufe have I thought 
it convenient to write and dedicate the 
fame to your Holy Congregation, imitating 
herein the devotion of our Bleffed F, Denis 
of Ruremond, no lefs famous for fan6lity of 
life than learning, who, whilft he lived, 
dedicated many devout works unto confe- 
crated Virgins, and efpecially to your Holy 
Convent ; as for example, Of the Profefjion 



The Epijlle of the Author, xi 

of Nuns ; Of Lively Mortification^ and In- 
ternal Reformation; Of Spiritual Profit 
and Watch over the Heart ; &c. Therefore, 
when as I perceive that you defire nothing 
more than to have fome chafte and pious 
doftrine inftilled into you (for which caufe 
you do fo greatly honour all thofe that be 
devoutly learned), I doubt not but that, this 
your defire being fatisfied, you will transfer 
your cogitations from men to God. Defire, 
therefore, eameftly this His doftrine, and 
think that Chrift fpeaketh unto you in 
thefe Exhortations, as it were in an Epiftle 
from Himfelf. — Farewell, 



A Table of the Chapters 

Contained in the enfuing Treatife. 




Page 

N Epijile or Exhortation of Jesus 
Christ to the Soul that is Devoutly 
Affected i 

Chap I. 
A Rule for a Spiritual Life . . . .22 

Chap. H. 
How we mu/i Mortify all Unlawful Defcres 
and Wicked Inclinations , , . .27 

Chap. HI. 
How a Man ought to Govern his Tongue . 30 

Chap. IV. 
Of the Contemplative Life^ which is wholly 
withdrawn from the Cares and Affairs of 
this prefent World 33 

Chap V. 
How we ought to Judge no Man . . .36 

Chap. VI. 
How we ought to Fight againfi Vice . . 41 

Chap. VII. 
How we muflfly the Occafcons of Temptation 63 



xiv A Table of Chapters. 

Page 

Chap. VIII. 
When Spiritual Temptations are to be Con- 
quered . . 66 

Chap. IX. 
How we ought to take heed of Envy . .72 

Chap. X. 
How we mujtfly Singularity . . . •73 

Chap. XI. 
Of the Honour^ Reverence^ and Worfhip which 
we ought to exhibit unto the MOTHER OF GOD 74 

Chap. XII. 
Of Senfcble Devotion 79 

Chap. XIII. 

How we mujl prepare ourf elves when we come 
to receive the Blessed Sacrament . . 82 

Chap. XIV. 
Of Difcretion 88 

Chap. XV. 
How we ought in all things to conforin our 
felves unto Christ . . . . .94 

Chap XVI. 
Of Poverty 95 

Chap. XVII. 
Of Humility 100 

Chap. XVIII. 
How Humility is to be Obtained . . . 102 



A Table of Chaptei^s. xv 

Page 

Chap. XIX. 
How IV e ought not to care for Men^s Judgments 113 

Chap. XX. 
Of Obedience 120 

Chap XXI. 

How we inuji Mortify our own Will a7id De- 
fer e 127 

Chap. XXII. 
Of the ConfLcleratio7i of God's Providence . 138 

Chap. XXIII. 
How we muji bear Adverfity . . . .145 

Chap. XXIV. 
Of Wa7iting of Confolation . . . -157 

Chap. XXV. 
Of Inward Peace and Me chiefs of Heart . 160 

Chap. XXVI. 
Of the Love which we Jhould bear towards 07ir 
Neighbour 163 

Chap. XXVII. 
Of the Purity of the Heart . . , .167 

Chap. XXVIII. 
How we ought to refer all the Good Things zue 
receive to the Goodnefs of GOD . . .170 

Chap. XXIX. 
How Divine Infpirations otLght to be Obferved^ 
and the Grace of GOD not Negle6led . .180 



xvi A Table of Chapters. 

Page 

Chap. XXX. 
How we iniift Employ the Gifts of GOD which 
we receive to the Benefit of Others . . 1 86 

Chap. XXXI. 
Of Poverty in Spirit 192 

Chap. XXXII. 
Of the Love of GOD 194 

Chap. XXXIII. 
Of the Praife of God 208 

Chap. XXXIV. 
Of the Exercife of the Love and Praife ^GOD 218 

Chap. XXXV. 
Of the Transformation of Man . . .227 

The ConclufL07i 236 

Two Rules of Direction for a Man^s Life . 240 

An Inflru^lion or Rule forfuch as are Weak 
and Linperfe^l^ and but New Beginners ht 
God's Service 247 

Another Lnfiru6lion or Rule for fuch as with a 
more fervent Zeal and Spirit do earneflly 
labour to attain to Perfection . . .254 

A very fhort Exercife of Love to GOD the 
Father^ GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy 
Ghofl, the mofl Blejfed Trinity, and One true 
GoD 271 



AN 



Epistle of Jesus Christ 

TO THE 

Faithful Soul. 



Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World 
AND King of Heaven and Earth -, 

Being 7^eady to e77ibrace thofe that earnejily a7id 
ti^uly defire His grace^ with His merciful and 
fatherly ar??is, wifheth to His Spoufe^ that is, 
to the Soul which loveth him (for whofefake 
He willingly fuffered death that He 7night unite 
her to Himfelf) all per fe^ and true felicity, 

^^^^^1 MY dearly beloved Daughter, 
N^^^^lil I have fpoken to thy heart 
by fecret infpirations, but 
thou wouldeft never give ear 
unto my motions ; vv^herefore, 
fmce thou didft care little to answer me, 
much lefs to obey me, I am enforced by 

B 




2 An Epijile of Jefits Chrijl 

the great love I bear thee, to write unto 
thee ; that at the leaft thou mayeft be con- 
tent to read what thou didft negleft to hear, 
and by reading both better bear away my 
exhortation, and more deeply imprint it in 
thy mind. For that charity which moved 
me to offer myfelf, not only to all danger, 
but even to death itfelf, for thy fake, will 
not fuffer me to leave anything undone that 
may tend to the furtherance of thy falvatiom 
And although thou doft not in any fort re- 
quite my love, becaufe thy heart is inclined 
to outward, vain, and tranfitory things, and 
fo by that means too much affefted and 
addifted to my creatures ; yet I cannot 
withdraw that charity, wherewith I am 
ahvays ready to embrace thee, which ex- 
ceedeth the love of any father or mother 
towards their children, or of any earthly 
parent whatfoever. For I am not only wil- 
ling to grant thee my grace and favour, 
but defirous to accept thee for my fpoufe, 
and will daily enrich thee with greater and 
better bleffmgs than any that this world 
can yield thee, if thou wilt follow my coun- 
fel. But for that thou haft contemned me 



To the Faithful Soul, 3 

when I came to vifit thee, and haft not 
hearkened to my infpirations, thou art 
become by this evil cuflom of thine, fo 
much diftrafted in thy foul, and fo far be- 
fide thyfelf, as thou art neither able to con- 
ceive what thou haft loft, nor yet the mifery 
wherein thou art, and the lefs that thou 
doft bewail and lament thine own mifery, 
the more doth thy cafe deferve to be pitied 
and lamented. 

2. What fliall I fay, O my daughter ? 
Thou fhouldft be an example to others, and 
thy life an inftru6tion to thofe that go 
aftray. The fweet favour of thy good con- 
verfation ought to be a wholefome medi- 
cine for the curing of fuch as are weakened 
with infeftion of fm, and thy words as a 
confuming fire, to inflame the hearts oi 
thofe that hear them. But now thou art 
thyfelf fo corrupted with the defire of child- 
ifh vanities, fo bufied with a multitude of 
unprofitable matters, and fo fubjeft to 
many hurtful paffions, as thou art diftracl- 
ed in thy foul, and haft fo much polluted 
it with filthinefs, as it is poffeffed with 
Vv'andering thoughts and vain imaginations. 



4 An Epijlle of yefiis Chrijl 

Self-love doth as yet reign in thee, and till 
thou mortify that, thou canft never enter 
into my chamber, or be partaker of my de- 
lights. So thou, who oughtefh to teach 
others, ftandeth now in need of being taught 
thyfelf. I v/rite this, not to the end that I 
mean to rejeft thee, but becaufe I would 
let thee know how far thou haft erred, and 
am defirous that thou fhouldft underftand 
thy own lofs and danger ; and I do not 
only allure thee, but I do alfo urge thee 
forward to return from thence, home again 
unto me. 

3. Wherefoever thou art, whatfoever thou 
doft, or Avhitherfoever thou goefh, my eye 
is never off from thee, looking and fearch- 
ing into all thy afts, all thy motions, and all 
the fecret intentions of thy heart. And if 
at any time I fpy in any of thefe the leaft 
unfaithfulnefs to me, who am moft faithful, 
I am juftly offended and angry. For I did 
fuffer not only with all patience, but even 
v/ith all willingnefs, many affronts, reproach- 
es, griefs, and torments for thy fake. 

4. O, my moft dear daughter, to pafs 
over in filence all the pains and torments 



To the Faithful SotcL 5 

which I did endure, tell me, I pray thee, 
what man would have fuffered fo many 
and fo great difgraces for his friend as I 
did for thee ? And yet I endured them 
when thou waft mine enemy, when thou 
hadft done no good at all, when thou didft 
neither love nor know me, yea before thou 
wert born did I love thee, and fuffer thefe 
grievous and innumerabletorments forthee? 
Why then wilt thou turn away thyfelf from 
me ? Why doft thou feek quietnefs with- 
out me ? Thou art fickly, and yet wilt 
wander abroad : If I forfake thee, who 
will receive thee ? Who can cure thee ? 
Alas, my daughter, how far art thou de- 
ceived ! Whither thou turneft thine eyes, or 
upon whatfoever thou doft fix thy mind, 
yet thou fhalt find no peace, no joy, nor 
any reft, but in me only. Thy fenfes de- 
ceive thee, and they which feem to love 
thee do abufe thee, and thou alfo doft de- 
ceive thyfelf, when thou refufeft a fove- 
reign medicine that would help thee, 
and receiveft rank poifon, which will kill 
thee. 

5. Alas, vay Daughter, alas my Spouse ; 



6 An Epijile of Jefits Chriji 

I know how often beautiful and goodly 
things in fliew, but vain things indeed, 
(which when they profefs moft love and 
faith unto thee are moft ready to be- 
guile thee) do allure thy fenfes and 
draw thy affeftion, and how often alfo 
they deceive thee with their fnares, and 
lead thee from me with their guiles. O, 
dear Daughter, remember that thou art a 
Spoufe, and let not the love of any other 
thing but only thy husband enter into th)' 
heart. Defire nothing but his favour, that 
thou mayeft be beautiful in his eyes, and 
pleafe him, and be for ever beloved of him. 
I ftand defiring thee, and waiting for thee ; 
I wifli that thou wouldft return unto me 
with all thy heart, and forfaking all thefe 
vanities, apply thyfelf wholly to devotion, 
and give thyfelf daily to humility ; that I 
might then vouchfafe to talk with thee in 
more familiar fort, and rejoice thy mind 
with far better and purer delights than 
thofe wherein thou haft lain drowned. 

6. I require no multitude of works at 
thy hands, wherewith to trouble thee, but 
a chafte, faithful, and pure heart, which 



To the Faithful SotiL 7 

may feek to pleafe me, and not delight 
itfelf. I defire a fmcere love, and a fer- 
vent devotion, that is, a ready and forward 
will to honour and obey me, and a fmcere 
and pure intention in performing of all 
thofe things that I command, I wifh that 
thy heart fhould be clear and free from any 
other love whatfoever, and if thou wouldfb 
prefent it to me in this fort, I would endow 
thee with greater confolations and far more 
excellent bleffmgs, than either thou dareft 
prefume to defire or art able to conceive. 
I am a husband that is bafhful, and there- 
fore will never come unto thee, when I fee 
thee bufied with other matters altogether 
vain and unprofitable. When I come I 
muft find thee alone, for I ftand knocking 
at thy door, being very weak and quaking 
for cold, even in the fame form that I 
carried, when I was unloofed from the 
pillar whereto, being bound, I was fcourged 
and wounded for thy fake. And this I do, 
that I may m^ake an impreffion of myfelf 
in thy mind, wounded as I was, and that 
thou, embracing me with the arms of thy 
love, I may unite thee unto me, and 



8 A 71 Epiftle of J ejus Chrijl 

inflame thee Avith my wounds, that do 
yet burn with the fervent heat of that 
charity which I bear towards thee. 

7. Oh, if thou wouldfh acknowledge me 
for thy husband, and love me as thou 
oughteft to do, wouldft thou not both 
quickly draw me into thy heart, and 
alfo before I came, with a moft defirous 
will, attend and long for my coming ; and 
wouldft thou not then clothe the naked, 
and give fire to warm him that is cold, that 
thou mighteft be made v/orthy to receive 
again the chafte embracings of my love, and 
to enjoy the fweet tafte of my fpirit ? 

8. How much it would pleafe me that 
thou hadft a certain and firm truft in me, 
and wert as willing to be with me, as I 
am defirous to be with thee, feeing all my 
delight confifteth in being with the 
Children of men.^'^ So fhould the fortitude 
of thy mind be daily augmented, and the 
true fweetnefs of thy foul continually 
increafed. But this truft in me can never 
be without a diftruft in thyfelf, and both 
thefe graces are only obtained by poverty 

WProv. viii. 31. 



To the Faithful Sotcl. 9 

of fpirit, Avhich is a most precious jewel. 
But I know well enough what doth with- 
hold thee from attaining to this virtue ; 
thy heart is overlaid with the love of this 
world, and by that means infefted with 
fuch an extreme coldnefs, as it maketh 
thee to loathe and abhor the Word of 
God, which is the food of thy foul. But 
if thou defire to increafe in virtue, and to 
ftrengthen thy mund w^ith the following of 
that courfe, thou muft receive the Word of 
God greedily, digeft it perfeftly, and ftill 
retain the nourifhment of that within 
thee. 

9. The reafon, therefore, that thou 
canft not thirft after my juflice is, becaufe 
thou art already filled with the cold meats 
of worldly converfation and vanity, and 
that is the caufe alfo w^hy thefe things do 
delight thee, which favour neither of piety 
nor devotion. Simplicity of heart is 
loathfome unto thee, and the exercife of 
holy meditations, thou accounteft as time 
loft. Thy mind being laden with the cares 
of this world, cannot afcend up unto me. 
For although thou raifeft it by force for a 



lo An Epijlle of ye/us Chrijl 

while, yet it prefently falleth down again 
into her earthly cogitations ; fo as thy foul 
being diftrafted, thy heart inconftant, thy 
mind wavering, and thy defires enfnared 
with the love of worldly pleafure : thou 
art troubled when thou art awake, and not 
quiet when thou art afleep. 

10. And when thou Heft in this mifery, 
O unwife Daughter, then thou complaineft 
that thou art dry and barren, without my 
confolations. If this did happen unto 
thee, by the means of my Providence, (as 
it hath to many other of my friends) 
and not by thine own negligence, there 
were no reafon why the wanting of this 
fenfible grace of mine fhould molefh thy 
foul. But feeing thy own floth and negli- 
gence is the caufe that thou lieft languifh- 
ing in this barren drynefs, — if thou defire 
,my confolation, — if thou wisheft for my 
coming, — if thou doft long to be united unto 
me, thou muft forfake all thofe vanities, 
that do pleafe thee without m.e, and only 
ftudy to ferve me, endeavouring continually 
to perform thofe things which agree beft 
with m.y liking, and are moft pleafmg unto 



To the Faithful SotcL 1 1 

me. And making this thy chiefeft care, 
thou muft labour with all thy force and 
might to fee my will, as near as thou 
canft, in all creatures fulfilled. Moreover, 
in doing hereof, let thy whole ftudy be to 
content me, and to rely only upon me. 
So fhalt thou find my prefence more often 
with thee, and by it thy fpirit fhall be, as 
it were, made drunk with joy ; thy con- 
fcience fhall be comforted ; thy heart 
quieted ; and thou fhalt then poffefs the 
perfeft reft of moft fweet contemplation. 

II. Oh, if thou hadft once come into 
that wine-cellar, out of doubt thou wouldft 
even with a certain thirftinefs, more ear- 
neftly defire to be there and more often. 
But no man can enter into it, faving fuch 
as defire me above all things, love me 
above all things, efteem me above all 
things, and make account of me as all in 
all. For he that findeth no other confola- 
tion but in me, he that thinketh himfelf 
unworthy to receive any confolation from 
me, nay, he that defireth affli6lion fo much 
in this w^orld that he taketh himfelf to be 
wronged, when I fend him any confolation 



12 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

at all, and doth as willingly accept it at 
my hands, when I leave his foul barren 
without any comfort, as when I replenifli 
it with my confolation, to whom all joy 
without me is a torment, having his mind 
wholly fixed upon me, and his defire only 
bent to ferve me. Such men as thefe are, 
I fay, my fpecial friends, at whofe door I 
do freely knock, and willingly enter ; thefe 
are the men to whom I gladly offer myfelf, 
and impart my fecrets. Thefe men I am 
wont to vifit in fundry v/ays, as feemeth 
fittefb in my judgment, by fhirring them up 
in fuch manner as is meet and agreeable 
for the devotion and love which they bear 
me. 

12. Sometimes I prefent myfelf to the 
eyes of their fouls, wounded, naked, and 
tormented in all my members, and that 
they may find greater comfort in the love 
they bear me, I fliew them my wounds, to 
the end that they may touch them, bathe 
them, cleanfe them, kifs them, and embrace 
them. And although their devotion in this 
behalf may feem to worldly men ridiculous, 
becaufe they know not what it meaneth. 



To the Faithful SotiL 13 

yet it is moft acceptable to me, and moft 
profitable to them. For then I begin to 
forget all the pains which I have fuffered, 
and alfo all the faults which fuch a fpoufe 
of mine hath committed againft me, and do 
wholly bend myfelf to comfort her with my 
fpirit and to lighten her with my grace. 

13. And although I fband not in need of 
anything, yet I make account I have gained 
much, when I find fo great fidelity in my 
fpoufe, as fhe loveth me better than either 
herfelf, or all the world besides. But un- 
thankfulnefs doth offend me, as much as 
fidelity doth content me, and is of all things 
moft grievous unto me, becaufe by it they 
feek to renew (as much as lieth in them) 
the griefs of my Paffion, and vexations of 
my mind ; feeing, I perceive, that all is 
loft, which I did with an unfpeakable 
charity endure for them. Therefore, whe- 
ther outward affliftion of thy body, or in- 
ward afifliftion of thy mind, happen unto 
thee, feek not for external comforts, which 
are nothing worth, but in all thy diftrefs 
fly unto me, and make no complaint of 
thy grief unto any man, but to me only. 



14 An Epiftle of Jefus Chrijl 

For what greater help can men yield thee 
than in giving thee fair words ? If thou 
haft a Ghoftly Father or Confeffor, I for- 
bid thee not to difclofe it unto him, but I 
exhort thee to lay open before him the 
fecrets of thy heart, and to direct thyfelf 
in all refpefts according to his counfel, 
without yielding any way to fatisfy the 
fury of thy paffion, or labouring for fome 
external comfort, or boafting before others 
of thofe vexations which thou doft fufter. 

14. Declare to me in fecret that which 
thou wouldft complain of before men, com- 
mitting thyfelf and all things to my Pro- 
vidence, being quiet without any care or 
perturbation of thy mind. Thou fhalt find, 
believe me, a happy peace in thy foul, and 
great confolation by this courfe at my hands, 
although not fuch, peradventure, at all times 
as thou doft imagine or wifh for, yet fuch 
as may moft of all conform thee to my will 
and pleafure. 

15, Oh! if thou wert taught and accuf- 
tomed by thine own experience in all 
worldly things which trouble thee to have 
thine eye only fixed upon me, to fiy unto 



To the Faithfzd Soitl. 15 

me for refuge, to hope in my mercy with 
a patient expefting of the fame, to rely 
upon me, and withal, to conceive with how 
fatherly and loving a mind I fend thee ad- 
verfity for thy benefit ; there fhould be no 
tribulation fo great that thou w^ouldft not 
with all gladnefs and willingnefs accept ; 
yea, and prefer it before all joy or confola- 
tion whatfoever. For albeit thou fhouldft 
receive no other commodity by it, yet this 
were fufficient to comfort and rejoice thy 
mind that it is a fulfilling of my will. If 
my will be done, it doth always pleafe the 
faithful foul, more than the receiving of any 
other benefit, although in truth my will be 
never but to do that which may be moft 
for her intereft. 

16. It will alfo help thee very much for 
retaining a quiet mind in all adverfity, to 
lay before thy eyes the a6ls and miferies 
of my life, and evermore to carry within 
thee a lively reprefentation thereof. For 
if thou do imprint this in thy mind, it will 
make thee think all bitter things fweet. 
Meditate, therefore, at all times upon my 
torments, and defire at my hands continu- 



i6 An Epijlle of Jefits Chriji 

ally, with fighs and tears, that I may 
vouchfafe to make a fhrong and an effe6lual 
impreiTion in thy heart of my wounds and 
paffion, that thou mayeft fee me crucified 
at all times, and in all places, with a heart 
that doth even fufifer with m.e ; and let the 
lively reprefentation hereof banifh from thy 
foul all other imaginations whatfoever. If 
thou return in this fort from all outward to 
inward things, and fhalt dwell within thine 
own felf ; if thou behold in thy heart my 
grievous torments, and myfelf crucified ; if 
thou hear me cry, when I Avas replenifhed 
with all forrow and bitternefs, and not re- 
lieved with any confolation from my father: 
My Gody my God, why haji thou forfaken 
"ine : thou fhalt (being inflamed with the 
virtue of my paffion) have a defire to imi- 
tate me, to fufifer for me, and to ferve me 
without any comfort at all, in contempt and 
refignation of thyfelf. 

1 7. They that ferve me with this mind, and 
are united unto me for mere love only, 
and continue faithful unto me without 
any other refpeft but to pleafe me, and to 
have my will wholly fulfilled in them, thefe 



To the Faithful Soul. 33 

thou hadfl forgotten all other things what- 
foever, and wert out of this world ; in quiet- 
nefs and filence fpeak to me only, and 
hearken unto me wholly. 

6. Never ftrive with any man in words, 
neither feek ftiffly to maintain thy own 
mind or opinion ; fuffer every man to have 
his faying, if thou canft not diffuade him 
by gentle words or do him good by fome 
mild exhortation. And, to conclude, re- 
folve thyfelf neither to difpute in words, 
neither yet reafon in thine own thoughts 
againft him, but refer all things unto me, 
and live thou in all filence of thy tongue, 
and in all quietnefs of thy heart. 

Chap. IV. 
Of the Contemplative Life which is wholly 
withdrawn from the Cares and Affairs 
of this Prefent World, 

jLY the fociety and familiarity of 
men, and when thou art not 
otherwife enforced by neceffity 
for my honour, or for thy neigh- 
bour's falvation, be always alone, for when 

D 




34 ^^ Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

thou art alone then will I reveal myfelf unto 
thee. Solitarinefs, filence, purity, and fim- 
pHcity of heart, do prepare a place for me to 
dwell in. Keep thyfelf, therefore, withdrawn 
from all creatures, in filence and quietnefs 
of heart. Neither vouchfafing to confent, 
nor yet to hearken to the unlawful appe- 
tites of thy will, the wandering cogitations 
of thy mind, or the vain defires of thy 
heart. For thy nature (I know) is ever in- 
clined to delight in confolation, and is 
always occupied, fometimes with outward 
labour in thy body, and fometimes with 
inward care in thy mind, feeking confola- 
tion in my creatures, whereby thou comeft 
to be many and fundry ways diftrafted. 

2. Remember thou, therefore, to ftrive 
with all thy force againft all thy fenfual 
and carnal inclinations, and keep thyfelf 
alone, being withdrawn from all creatures, 
and remaining ever, both in outward folita- 
rinefs of thy body and inward contempla- 
tion of thy mind, as far as difcretion, which 
muft be thy guide, obedience to thy fupe- 
riors, and charity to thy neighbours, will 
permit thee. Take care, alfo, as much as 



To the Faithful Soul. 35 

conveniently thou mayeft, not to give others, 
by thy example, any occafion of often meet- 
ing, or common familiarity, becaufe it doth 
very much hinder the fpiritual courfe of 
life, which is never fo free from any impe- 
diment, nor fo apt to profit itfelf, as when 
it is feparated from all forts of men, and all 
kind of bufinefs. Yet, howfoever thou 
fhalt chance to be, either living amongft 
men, or fequeftered from the fociety of 
men, remain with me always alone, recol- 
lefted within thy own foul, and withdrawn 
not only from all other creatures, but even 
from thine own felf; that is, from all 
liking to procure thine own pleafure, 
from all care to feek thine own com- 
modity, and from all defire to ferve thy 
own appetite. 

3. Perfuade thyfelf that thou art left alone 
in this world, and haft nothing to care for 
but me, and, therefore, think of no other 
matter, and deal with no other creature 
but with me only. Examine not other 
men's aflions, and trouble not thyfelf with 
other men's affairs. If thou feeft that 
which is good, embrace it, and let it edify 



36 An Epiftle of ye/us Chrijl 

thee ; if thou feeft that which is evil, leave 
it, but give no judgment of it. 

4. Beware of obferving, marking, examin- 
ing, or judging of fuch men's fpeeches, 
aftions, and manners, as cannot by their 
holy and good example edify thee. Nay, 
be fo far from doing this, as defire never to 
hear or underfland them, but rather feek 
by all means not to know them at all. And 
if thou fhalt happen by any chance to hear 
them, root them out of thy heart, and en- 
deavour to forget them as foon as thou 
canft, efpecially if thou ftandeft in danger, 
by that means, to offend in the breach of 
charity, or to conceive a worfe opinion of 
•thofe parties. 



Chap. V. 

How we ought to Judge no Man, 

[HINK ill of no man, and although 
he feemeth to thee to be wicked, 
yet believe that he hath been fuf- 
fered to fall by fome fecret and 
hidden providence of mine, for the attaining 




To the Faithful Soul. 37 

of greater humility in himfelf, and procur- 
ing of greater profit to his foul. And thou 
oughteft neither to judge nor yet defpife 
him, but lament rather thy own ingratitude 
towards me, becaufe my grace only doth 
uphold thee, as it were, violently againft 
thy will ; and think that without it thou 
shouldft fall into greater and more heinous 
fms than any other. Therefore, fay unto 
thyfelf : If this man had received fo much 
grace as I have done, he would have ferved 
God a great deal more devoutly, and been 
more thankful unto him, than I have been. 
2. Believe alfo, that as foon as I look 
upon him with the eyes of my mercy, he 
will prefently repent and amend ; or elfe, 
that he is already reformed and made more 
holy than thofe that defpife him. Where- 
fore, afcribe thy ill-conceit of him to thine 
own fault and rafh judgment, and reprehend 
thyfelf fharply becaufe thou haft thought 
amifs of thy neighbour, and done him wrong. 
Rancour, hatred, bitternefs, and envy, do 
many times hide themfelves under the 
colour of zeal, which do make men think, 
not only every defeft and light fault of their 



38 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

neighbour to be grievous, but alfo to judge 
their virtues to be vices, their fights being 
dimmed with the foggy mifb of maHce and 

3. Take fpecial heed, therefore, that thou 
neither reprehend nor accufe any man, nor 
yet either fpeak or hear of any man's faults 
when thou art angry. Beware alfo that 
thou doft not at that time feek to gall him, 
gainfay him, or grieve him with any word 
or fhow of thine ; neither yet by chiding to 
procure humility and fhame in him ; or 
to declare that thou haft taken him in a 
fault worthy of reprehenfion, and meet to 
be fpoken of And chiefly abftain from 
doing of this, as long as difpleafure, bitter- 
nefs, or any troubled and unquiet paffion 
doth remain in thy heart againft him, and 
as long as thou doft defire to make others 
note him for his faults and offences, becaufe 
thou haft neither zeal of charity, nor a fm- 
cere intention in thee at that time. For if 
thou hadft, thou wouldft rather be forrow- 
ful, and lament with him for his fms, and 
feek as much as thou couldft to excufe and 
cover before others thy brother's or fifter's 



To the Faithful SouL 39 

offence. And if they had made a great 
fault thou wouldft then rebuke them in 
fecret, not without grief in thy own foul, and 
wouldft pray earneftly unto me for them, 
with a heart that did even fuffer with 
them for their offences, and were moft 
lovingly and humbly affefted towards 
them. 

4. O, my daughter, be diligent to know 
what thou wanteft, and what is fit for my 
fpoufe. And as for other men's faults, be 
deaf to hear them, dumb to utter them, and 
blind to fee them. Tell me (my daughter) 
how great regard would a bafhful virgin 
have of her behaviour, if fhe ftood in a 
king's prefence, and faw his eyes continually 
fixed upon her } After the fame fort, think 
how that I am in all places prefent with 
thee, and that thou ftandeft always in my 
fight. Confider how great modefly there 
ought ever to be in thee, how great inno- 
cency of life, and, to be fhort, how great 
reverence thou oughteft to carry towards 
me, who do always behold, and look with 
my piercing eyes into the depth of all thy 
a£ls, thoughts, paffions, words, motions, 



40 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

intentions, and even the very fecrets of thy 
heart ! 

5. Prefume not, therefore, to do anything 
in my fight which thou dareft not offer to 
do in the fight of one of my fervants that 
were a very devout man, and fo generally 
accounted, and of all men greatly efteemed; 
for thou oughteft ever to fear the dreadful 
prefence of my almighty power and infinite 
Majefty, and to have it at all times, botfi 
laid before thy eyes and imprinted in thy 
heart, that by it thou may eft be ftirred up 
to love and reverence me ; and be careful 
in all things to pleafe me, fince thou art 
continually in my fight. 

6. Thou fhouldft not have the peace of 
thy foul, which thou doft in all places defire, 
to depend upon men's mouths ; that is, to 
be quiet when no man doth gainfay thee, 
but to reft upon me and a good confcience. 
Moreover, thou oughteft to mortify that 
appetite in thyfelf which doth provoke thee, 
with an earneft defire and delight, to be 
beloved and commended of men. Suffer 
men to be men ftill, and apply thyfelf only 
to love me, that thou mayeft be worthy to 



To the Faithful Soul. 41 

ftand highly in my favour. Live uprightly 
with thy neighbour and love him for my 
fake, neither care thou whether he love thee 
again or not, but leave it to me, and fly the 
familiarity both of men and women, but 
efpecially of thofe that be not of thine own 
fex. 

7. If thou hadft as great a care, or, at 
the leaft, no lefs refpe6l to pleafe me than 
thou haft not to difpleafe men, thou 
fhouldft obtain by it greater confolation in 
thy foul than if all the world did feek for 
thy favour. 



Chap. VL 

How we ought to Fight agahijl Vice, 

|E ftout and circumfpe6l, to van- 
quifli and purge thy foul of any 
imperfe6lion, although it be never 
fo little, for the leaft fm that 
ofifendeth me ought not to feem fmall in thy 
eyes, if thou doft perfe6lly love me. Call 
to mind the love that thou didft carry to- 
wards me heretofore, which made thee to 




42 An Epijlle of yefits Chrijl 

contemn and forfake, for the love of me, 
thy parents, thy brethren, thy fifters, thy 
riches, thy honour, and whatfoever elfe that 
feemeth dehghtful in this prefent world ; 
and to conclude even thyfelf, that is, thy 
flourifhing youth, and pleafantefi; years ; 
how cometh it, then, now to pafs that thou 
art vanquifhed with a moft light temptation, 
and a vile notion of concupifcence ? 

2. Thou knoweft beft thyfelf how weak 
and negligent thou art for the moft part, 
and how hardly thou art drawn to over- 
come vice, to beware of thofe fnares which 
may endanger thy foul, to fly the occafions 
and provocations of fm, to renounce thy 
own will, and to amend the imperfeftions 
of thy heart. Renew, therefore, thy con- 
ftant and former determination, refolving 
to perfecute all vice in thyfelf, and not to 
fufifer anything to remain within thee that 
is contrary to my will, for any worldly 
gain whatfoever. Neglefl not to do all 
thofe things which pleafe me, and follow 
that courfe of life which I require at thy 
hands, and is fit for thy vocation, with all 
care and diligence. Be careful not to 



To the Faithful Sotd. 43 

delay, neither leave thofe things undone 
which is thy duty to perform, and my right 
to receive, but do them with courage, 
floutly, willingly, carefully, faithfully, and 
devoutly. 

3. Whenfoever thou findeft in thyfelf the 
motions of anger, concupifcence, wantonnefs, 
pride, and fuch like motions of vices, be- 
ware that thou doft not fuffer them violently 
to break out of thee by any word or fhew ; 
but feek, by bridling and refifting them, to 
fupprefs and extinguifli them. The beft 
and moft prefent remedy againft all kinds 
of vice, is to caft thyfelf when thou art 
tempted proftrate at my feet, with all hu- 
mility, to confider how thou wert made of 
nothing, and art nothing but by my grace ; 
to turn unto me wholly, to repofe all thy 
confidence in me, to call upon me by con- 
tinual prayer, and perfeftly to know that 
thou canft receive no fuccour nor remedy 
in this thy diftrefs but from me only. 

4. Seek to ftrengthen thine own infirmity 
in this fort every hour, and renew thy good 
purpofe, ever perfuading thyfelf that the 
prefent inftant wherein thou liveft, is the 



44 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

firft time of thy beginning to do well. 
When it fhall feem loathfome to thy nature, 
or go againft thy fenfual appetite, to take 
thefe labours, to enter into thefe combats 
and conflicts, and to do many other things 
which may feem contrary and grievous to 
thy mind in this exercife of virtue, ever the 
more that thine own flothful humour fhall re- 
pine at them, the more earneftly endeavour 
thou to overcome and mortify thefe paffions. 
5. Be not wearied with fo holy a labour, 
neither ceafe thou to proceed in fo good a 
courfe, left it move me alfo to ftay from 
pouring the influence of my grace into 
thee. Be afraid left that, if thou yield thy- 
felf vanquifhed, or feemeft tired by reafon 
of thy floth, my grace fhall forfake thee, 
and that I will leave thee to follow thy 
own inventions, and with a dangerous kind 
of fecurity to fatisfy thy own defires, ; for it 
is a manifeft argument that I have then> 
for thy own deferts, both juftly and clearly 
rejefted thee, when thou feeleft no worm 
of confcience gnawing within thee, no re- 
morfe for thy fins, nor any fear of my 
dreadful judgment. 



To the Faithful Soul. 45 

6. Such as are in this ftate are in a moft 
perilous cafe, for when they think peace 
neareft unto them, then cometh deftru6lion 
moft fudden upon them. Wherefore, fight 
thou manfully, and violently reprefs thine 
affe6lions. Wifh in this fmall confli6l or 
afifliftion, how little foever it be, to yield 
me fome recompenfe, as far as lieth in thy 
power, for thofe pains and torments which, 
both living and dying, I endured for thy 
fake. 

7. Be never wearied, therefore, with 
fighting againft many temptations, give 
not place, wax not faint, neither fufifer 
thou thyfelf to be overcome with weaknefs 
in thy heart, nor defperation in thy mind, 
but perfecute all vice with a continual and 
mortal hatred, and as often as thou begin- 
neft to faint, or to decline from thy former 
determination, fo often rife again and make 
a new refolution. 

8. One thing I muft needs warn thee of, 
which hurteth thyfelf and ofifendeth me, 
which is, that thou art become fometimes 
fo faint-hearted with thy faults and over- 
fights, as that they move thee to waver 



4-6 An Epijlle of Jefits Chrift 

in following of the good courfe that thou 
haft begun, and almoft induce thee to 
defpair. This is the caufe that doth make 
thee fit folitary, pining, and confuming for 
very grief, and not to return unto me that 
thou mayeft rife again, but even with a 
kind of defpair to imagine that all thou 
haft done before is utterly loft and for- 
gotten. And thou fheweft thyfelf by this 
kind of dealing to be proud, becaufe when 
thou didft feem to ftand, thou didft truft 
too much in thy own force and ability, and 
that maketh thee now to be fo greatly 
troubled and perplexed in thy mind, becaufe 
thy hope did fail thee, and it fell out other- 
wife than thou didft expe6t or look for. 

9. My will is, that thou fhouldft not ufe 
the help of thy own force and endeavour, 
but utterly to diftruft both in them and 
thyfelf, and to truft in me only, for, as long 
as thou thinkeft otherwife, thou art like 
every hour to come to ruin, until thou 
learneft this leffon, that when thou relieft 
upon thyfelf, thine own flrength is no 
greater help unto thee to make thee ftand 
upright than if thou wert under-propped 



To the Faithful Soul, 47 

with a broken reed. But defpair not in 
me, repofing a moft firm hope, and affured 
confidence in my mercy. 

10. And touching thyfelf, I would have 
thee to defpair after this fort : not to refufe 
thy own counfel, thy own induftry, thy 
own travail, and other things of fuch like 
kind which proceed from thyfelf, but I 
would have thee continually to ufe them, 
and yet not to rely upon them, confidently 
to truft or delight in them, neither yet 
would I have thee attribute any good thou 
receiveft to thyfelf, or to thine own dili- 
gence ; for both thyfelf, and all thefe abili- 
ties which thou haft, have not power to 
make thee withftand the fmalleft fin, ex- 
cept thou be affifted with my grace and 
mercy. Neither think thou that I will pre- 
fently pour into thee, for one earneft prayer, 
a few tears, or one only conflift againft the 
temptation of fin, all graces, all virtues, 
and all good gifts ; or that I will for this, 
fend thee any fudden or extraordinary 
profit in thy fpiritual courfe of life, or that 
thou fhalt immediately come to attain to 
all piety and holinefs. 



48 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

11. I require at thy hands daily pains, 
unfeigned humbling of thyfelf, and a con- 
tinual fidelity towards me, in fighting againft 
vice. I look for alfo a firm hope, and an 
affured trufl in my mercy, and a conftancy 
in thee, that will neither be overcome with 
any affault, nor yet wearied with any travail. 
And when thou fhalt find in thyfelf all thefe 
things which I have named, let there not 
want a moft profound humility, whereby 
thou mayeft be brought perfe6lly to know 
thyfelf, and to confefs that, as thou w^ert 
made of nothing by my mercy, fo thou art 
nothing but by my grace, attributing nothing 
to thy own labour and travail, and acknow- 
ledging that thou haft deferved nothing, 
but afcribing thy thirft after juftice, and all 
other good things which thou doeft, to me 
only. 

12. Except thou knoweft thefe things 
thou canft not but err, and muft of neceffity 
fall often, until thou come to learn what 
thou art of thyfelf, and what thou art by 
my grace. I forbid thee not, but exhort 
thee to labour as much as thou canft, and 
to ftrive for virtue as much as thou art able ; 



To the Faithful SduI. i^j 

men, I fay, are my moft faithful and moft 
fpecial friends. And in what drynefs or 
defolation foever they may feem to be, and 
with what temptations foever they may 
feem to be overwhelmed, and, as it were, 
caft off and forfaken by me, yet in truth 
they are ftill mine, becaufe they fight man- 
fully, at their own charge, for my caufe 
againft the whole army of wicked tempta- 
tions, which do continually affault men in 
the warfare of this prefent world ; and will 
not revolt from my camp, although I 
fometimes ftrike and punifh them. 

1 8. But I do not altogether leave them ; 
for feeing they have conquered all their 
paffions, and renounced all their own appe- 
tites to pleafe me, and for my fake ; yea, 
and have even altogether forfaken them- 
felves, and given themfelves only to me, in 
being fubje6l only to my will ; I cannot 
hold, but I muft alfo pour myfelf into 
them, and both fill, nourifh, and poffefs 
their fouls with my comfort, which is a 
hundred times better, purer, and fweeter, 
than the worldly pleafure which they have 
forfaken. They cannot receive this (as I 

C 



1 8 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

have often told thee, and will not ceafe to 
beat into thy mind) who do feek or accept 
of any foreign comfort that proceedeth not 
from me, or is not in me. For my confola- 
tion is wonderfully fweet, and beftowed 
only upon fuch as will admit me, and no 
other. It is alfo moft pure, and therefore 
cannot be mixed with any confolation that 
is derived from my creatures. But why do 
I fo often repeat thefe things unto thee } 
Truly I do it to make thee more wife, 
watchful, and circumfpeft, and to the end 
that thou fhouldft not be fnared with thefe 
corrupt and earthly delights, nor yet be 
brought by them to forget me, feeing I can 
never forget thee, although thy falvation 
only dependeth upon my Providence, and 
not mine upon thee in any fort. 

19. I wifh alfo that thou fhouldft be 
continually with me, and by being with me 
enjoy all perfect felicity. But why do not I 
fulfil this .'* Marry, even for thy good, that 
thou mayeft increafe in virtue and merits, 
to the great profit of thy foul, and thy 
greater glory. For thou mayeft by my 
grace daily increafe in goodnefs and be 



To the Faithful Soul. 19 

made every moment more rich in merit. 
Wherefore feeing this is fo, how foolijfh doft 
thou think them to be, and how much to 
be lamented, who do fpend the moft pre- 
cious time of grace that I have allotted 
unto them, not only not to my honour and 
their own profit, but to the heavier aggra- 
vating of their damnation by a wicked life ? 
Oh, that thou kneweft how much thou 
mightefh increafe in the virtues of thy foul, 
and in merit, by my grace every hour, 
and alfo how dear a jewel time is, and how 
damnable the lofs thereof. For thou wouldfl 
then out of doubt take care with more dili- 
gence that the fmalleft moment fhould not 
pafs thee vainly, nor yet flip away without 
reaping fome benefit to thy foul. With 
the fun rifing every day, there fhould then 
arife a new joy in thy mind, that I had 
granted thee the commodity of that day, 
and by it fo much longer fpace to honour 
and ferve me. Think, therefore, and fay 
every hour unto thyfelf: Our Lord which 
loveth me hath vouchfafed to give me this 
hour, this moment, and hath prolonged the 
courfe of my life hitherto, that I fhould 

C 2 



20 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

even now begin to turn unto him, and en- 
deavour myfelf to pleafe him. 

20. O my daughter, ever above all things 
carry this opinion, that the prefent moment 
wherein thou liveft, is the firft time wherein 
thou beginneft to do well, and contemn all 
that thou haft done before as nothing 
worth. What occafion foever, what bufi- 
nefs foever, what idle time foever, or what 
other things foever, either may or fhall 
happen unto thee, ufe them in fuch fort as 
thou employ them to my glory, and con- 
vert them to fome benefit of thy own foul. 
But this, in this behalf, is fufficient. For I 
have hitherto ftirred thee up, and excited 
thee to depart from all vanities, with fhut- 
ting the gates of thy fenfes againft them, 
and to return unto me with a recolle6led 
and quiet mind. 

21. It remaineth now that I add unto 
this, as it were, a rule to teach thee how to 
live godly, which I have heard thee, by the 
infpiration of my grace, defire often at my 
hands. For there remaineth as yet baftiful- 
nefs in thee (which I like well) and which 
maketh thee afhamed in the opening of thy 



To the Faithful Soul. 21 

infirmities, faults, errors, and negligences ; and 
alfo grieved that thou haft this long time 
heretofore, and doft even at this prefent, fo 
unworthily ufurp the nameof my fpoufe. But 
feeing thou defireft to return into my grace, 
there is nothing that I likewife do more 
affe6l or defire. For what other joy have I 
in being among you, than to receive every 
fmner into my favour? How much more 
then do I defire, or rather long (as may in 
reafon be juftly thought), to bring my fpoufe 
home unto me, when fhe goeth aftray, 
amongft the briers and thorns of worldly 
vanities ; nay, I am fo defirous to recall thee, 
as I will prefcribe thee a plain path, wherein 
(if thou walkeft) thou fhalt be fure to fol- 
low my fteps, and never wander again out 
of thy way. Come, therefore, unto me, and 
by thy return procure me a new joy, fuch 
as I delight in moft, and defire ever to 
poffefs. 




2 2 An Epijlle of Jefus Chriji 

Chap. L 

A Rule for Spiritual Life. 

ARK well, my daughter, for fince 
I fee thee give better care, and 
apply thy mind with more dili- 
gence to carry away my fpeeches, 
I will proceed in declaring thofe things unto 
thee, which I require at thy hands. Con- 
tinue, therefore, attentive, and return now 
wholly unto me, being ready in all things 
to obey me. Put on a new mind, and hear 
what I expe6l that thou fhouldft do, and 
what thou art not able of thyfelf to do, let 
prayer affift thee to fulfil. 

2. Seek to obtain by prayer whatfoever 
is neceffary for thee, faying : Deliver me 
from my enemies, O Lord ; I fly unto thee 
for fuccour ; teach me to do thy will, be- 
caufe thou art my God. Leave me not, O 
Lord my God, and depart not from me ; 
neither yet defpife me, who art the God of 
my falvation. Incline thyfelf to help me, 
O Lord, the God of my fafety. Behold I 



To the Faithful Soul, 23 

defire to return unto thee, draw me after 
thee, and never fuffer me again to be fepa- 
rated or withdrawn from thee. O my 
daughter, hearken now to that which I gave 
in commandment to one of my fervants 
long ago, and endeavour thou alfo to fulfil 
it. I faid unto him : 

Ufe ever fdence i7t thy tongue^ 
And have co7npun6lion in thy mindj 
Be humble^ courteous^ meek^ and mild^ 
If thou in me wilt comfort find, 

3. The fame words in the fame form do 
I fpeak unto thee, having made it in the 
true meafure of a verfe, although thou 
fhalt have lefs need of a meafure to dire6l 
thee when thou art come to this perfe6lion. 
But I do not now deliver it unto thee, as 
framed in meafure to pleafe thy ears, but 
as a fovereign medicine to cure thy foul. I 
have comprehended all thofe things, which 
are neceffary for thee, briefly in this verfe, 
that thou mayeft more eafily retain them in 
thy memory, and more often meditate upon 
them in thy mind. For my will is, that 
thou fhouldft altogether apply thy endea- 



24 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

vour to have a holy compun6lion for thy 
fins, and that leaving all other bufinefs 
afide, thou fhouldft only attend to a con- 
tinual and internal converfation, and re- 
maining weaned from all other pleafures, to 
be recoUefted into thine own felf, and fo to 
continue always free from any diftra6lion 
or perturbation whatfoever. Be filent in 
thy tongue, and pure from all filthinefs in 
thy heart. Be humble and meek, and re- 
member to fhow thyfelf both courteous and 
gentle in all thy behaviour towards all 
forts of men. 

4. Firft of all, diligently examine thyfelf, 
and look moft nearly and narrowly into 
thyfelf, that thou mayeft know what is in 
thee, which is an impediment to thee, for 
the receiving of my grace, that is to fay, 
Avhat is in thee which doth difpleafe me, 
that thou mayeft corre6t and amend it. 
Confider to what things, and by what 
means, thou art tempted, and where thou 
feeft thyfelf moft fharply and ofteneft 
tempted, there feek to refift them with 
greateft diligence, and moft earneft en- 
deavour. Whej'e thou findeft thyfelf weaker. 



To the Faithful Sotcl. 2$ 

there apply more forcible remedies quickly 
to vanquifh them. Where thou perceiveft 
any occafion which moveth thee to fin, or 
not to profit in this fpiritual courfe, there 
cut off* that fcandal and impediment from 
thee. 

5. Have fpecial care to prefent unto me 
a pure heart ; free from all uncleannefs, 
and neither infefted with any inordinate 
love to my creatures, nor occupied with 
any unneceffary bufinefs in this world, and 
labour evermore with all that thou art able 
wholly to cleave unto me, and ftill to rely 
upon me. The caufe why I do exhort 
thee to a continual exercife of compunction 
is that by it thou mayeft keep thyfelf free 
from foreign or wandering thoughts, which 
thou canft never attain unto, except thou 
be recollefted in thy mind. Neither canft 
thou come to be thus recolle6led, except 
thou lead an internal and folitary life, 
private to thyfelf and withdrawn from all 
worldly affairs. Wherefore mark with a 
watchful eye thofe vices, concupifcences, 
and wicked inclinations which reign in 
thee, that thou mayeft never ceafe with all 



26 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

thy might to perfecute them, and wilHngly 
to mortify in thyfelf all inordinate affections. 
6. Many complain that they are unapt 
for contemplation and fpiritual life, but 
their own negligence and floth is the caufe ; 
for that they will ftrain themfelves no with 
to conquer their old man, that they may 
mortify all lufts and concupifcences, but 
do nourifh, cherifh, and favour them which 
they ought to perfecute and root out of 
their minds. Therefore they carry always 
about with them a heavy burden of unquiet 
thoughts, filled with labour and vexation ; 
but if thou defire to enjoy me have no peace 
at all with any vice. Banifh from thee all 
unprofitable difcourfes, cares, and bufineffes 
which yield no benefit at all to thy foul. And 
never apply thy mind to the thinking of any 
other matter, nor trouble thyfelf with any 
other affairs, but fuch as tend to my honour, 
the falvation of thy own foul, or the com- 
modity of thy neighbour, that thou being 
thus alone, and in this fort retired within 
thyfelf, mayeft be poffeffed with me, who 
will never be matched with any other com- 
panion. 




To the Faithful Soul. 27 



Chap. II. 

How we mujl Mortify all Unlawful Defires 
and Wicked Inclinations, 

ilOUCHSAFE not to hear, much 
lefs to read, any news, tidings, 
or pleafant hiftories, which 
ferve not to procure a com- 
punftion in thy heart, but to dehght a 
curious mind, and afterwards to leave thy 
foul corrupted and infefted with fundry 
imaginations and vain defires. Fly any 
fpecial familiarity, liking, or converfation 
with worldly men, that is to fay, with thofe 
that love thefe earthly pleafures ; yea, enter 
not into any league of familiarity, good- 
and fpecial converfation with any fuch men, 
whofe words and deeds do not edify thee 
in this virtuous courfe, but avoid his com- 
pany; and mortify all fenfual love in thyfelf 
towards any of my creatures. 

2. Have fuch a command over thy belly, 
as that thou allow it only neceffary things, 



28 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

and that alfo not for the pleafing of thy 
tafte, but for the fuftaining of nature, and 
for my fake, that by this means thou mayeft 
not decay, but increafe in ability to ferve 
me. Moreover, never receive anything to 
dehght thy tafte which is not neceffary and . 
profitable for thy body, and efpecially 
when thou mayeft obferve this without the 
breach of brotherly charity. Root out alfo 
from thy mind after this fort, and fail not 
both to fly and abhor all pleafant things, 
all voluptuous things, and all fuch things 
as feem fweet to thy carnal appetite, as 
far as difcretion will permit thee, which 
doth qualify all extremity, ever having a 
refpe6l to charity, to infirmity, to the 
neceflity of nature, and to every other 
thing that is convenient ; and evermore 
take a fpecial care that in this government 
of thyfelf thou doft perfecute concupifcence, 
but not deftroy nature. 

3. And as touching thofe things which 
are neceffary, and yet cannot be received 
without fome delight, it is fufficient for 
thee if thou doft not feek that delight but 
in refpefl of me, that is to obey me, who 



To the Faithful Soul, 29 

have committed the care of thy body to 
thyfelf to refrefh the infirmity of thy 
nature, fo as thou takeft this dehght not as 
a thing which thou wilheft for, but as a 
thing that cannot be feparated from that 
which is neceffary for man's ufe, admitting 
it only for neceffity, and not defiring it for 
pleafure. Therefore, to be fhort, have 
fuch a care and watch over all thy fenfes, 
as they may not move or turn themfelves 
to any vain or unprofitable things. See 
nothing, touch nothing, know nothing, but 
that which may be profitable for thy foul 
and my glory. 

4. Whereinfoever a man doth follow his 
own appetite, feeking to fatisfy it of a 
proper and felfwill, that is to fay, becaufe 
he will have it fo, or becaufe he hath a 
defire thereunto, he muft needs offend, for 
he that defireth anything in this fort, 
whether it be in meat, drink, or any other 
thing to refrefh nature, or elfe in feeking 
the delight of fome fpiritual confolation, 
it cannot be done without fin, becaufe 
there is in it a particular care to pleafe his 
own fancy, which doth divide and feparate 



30 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

him clean from me. Suffer nothing, there- 
fore, to grow in thee, or to be nourifhed 
by thee, which carrieth any refpe6l to 
fatisfy thy own Hking or to content thy 
own will, although it may feem to have an 
appearance of goodnefs. But thou muft 
die to all love of thyfelf, and all defire of 
following thy own appetite, that a naked, 
a fimple, and a pure charity, without mix- 
ture of any other thing whatfoever, and 
a chafte intention to pleafe me, may ftir, 
move, and procure thee to all the thoughts 
thou thinkeft, to all the words thou 
fpeakeft, and to all the works thou doeft. 



Chap. III. 

How a Man ought to Govern his Toftgue. 

JAVE as watchful a care as thou 
canft over thy tongue, and re- 




flrain it from all liberty, fuffer it 
to utter nothing but that which 
is neceffary and well thought of before, and 
in as few words as it is poffible for thee to 



To the Faithful Soul, 31 

comprehend the fame, with all modefty and 
meeknefs, and without any great noife or 
loud fpeaking, flying and cutting off, by all 
the means thou art able, anything that may 
either occafion or procure thee to fpeak. 

2. Abftain from all words that are any 
way hurtful, backbiting, grudging, unclean, 
or contentious, as from a mortal fin. Hav- 
ing a fpecial regard to keep thyfelf from all 
jefting, lightnefs, immoderate laughter, and 
idle words, and be fo careful in this behalf, 
as neither thou ufeft them thyfelf, nor yet 
hear them of any other, as far as it lieth in 
thy power to avoid it. 

3. And to the end thou mayeft be free 
from that great vice of backbiting, refolve 
thou in thine own heart never to fpeak any- 
thing of thofe who are abfent, but fuch 
things as thou art fure do tend to the edi- 
fying of men's fouls. Ever have fome 
means ready at hand to break off that talk 
(if there be any fpeech offered of thofe 
that be abfent) by bringing aptly in a dif- 
courfe of fome other matter, before there 
be any word uttered either in the back- 
biting or difpraifing of them. 



32 An Epiftle of Jefus Ckrijl 

4. Take a moft diligent and heedful 
care that thou fpeakeft not thyfelf, nor fuf- 
fereft any other to fpeak, of thofe who have 
offended thee, or towards whom thou find- 
eft in thy heart no perfect charity, becaufe 
men may eafily fall by that means into the 
vice of backbiting, while they fpeak to 
pleafe thy humour by flattering of thee, and 
reproaching of thofe that thou doft miflike. 
Therefore, never hearken to any accufa- 
tion that is made of them which are 
thine enemies, or fuch as thou doft not 
love. 

5. Endeavour as much as thou canft to 
remain always in filence (I mean not only 
the filence of thy tongue, but efpecially the 
filence of thy heart), fo as there may not be 
heard within thy foul any found of unlaw- 
ful concupifcence, any noife of unquiet 
paffions, or any troublefome ftir of wicked 
affe6lions and inordinate inclinations. Nei- 
ther fufifer thou unprofitable difcourfes to 
arife in thine own heart, with any vain 
fancies, fond imaginations, or the deceitful 
forms of fuch things as thou fhalt have 
there reprefented unto thee ; but even as if 



To the Faithful Soul, 49 

and when thou haft done all, truft not in 
any remedy, nor in any induftry of thy 
own, that is without me, but hope of this, 
pray for this, and believe this certainly, that 
I will never fail to affift thee in all thy 
diligent and virtuous labours, not in refpe6l 
of thine own deferts, but in refpe6l of the 
love and charity which I bear thee. For 
feeing that I have given thee a will, a 
defire, and an inclination to fight, I will 
alfo grant thee for thy labour in fight (if 
thou perfevereft to the end) a crown of 
glory, a triumph of vi6lory, and a moft 
happy end of thy combat. 

13. Wherefore, whether thou art in war 
or at peace with thyfelf, whatfoever thou 
doft determine, whatfoever thou beginneft, 
or whatfoever enterprife thou doft under- 
take, crave without ceafing my affiftance 
by prayer, and wait before the gates of my 
mercy. Thy prayers ftiall never return 
from me void and fruitlefs, although thou 
think thou haft received nothing ; for it is 
often more profitable for thee to pray 
humbly and earneftly than to receive and 
obtain benefits. It is often more gainful 

E 



50 An Epijile of Jefus Chriji 

for thee to truft in me, and expe6l my 
leifure, than fenfibly to feel or poffefs my 
confolation. Wherefore be thou patient, 
and long-fufifering, and increafe in all good 
exercifes, and in the love of all that is good ; 
between falling and rifmg, ever expeft thou 
my grace and proteftion. Neither feek to 
fly or to run away from the battle, until all 
the fight be fully ended, and the time 
be come for thee to receive a glorious 
reward for thy painful travail. 

14. And becaufe thou mayeft be the 
rather encouraged to proceed in this labour, 
affure thyfelf that, even in this life, thy 
enemies fhall be daily diminifhed, and 
their forces that affault thee continually 
weakened, and thyfelf by my grace, and 
ufe of fighting, wonderfully ftrengthened ; 
infomuch as that which at the firft thou 
couldft fcarcely fcrape out with a file of 
iron, thou flialt come in time to drive away 
with a blaft of wind. 

15. Moreover, whenfoever thou chanceft 
to fall, take this for a general rule, though 
thou falleft never fo often, and offendefl 
never fo greatly, yet prefently without any 



To the Faithful Soul, 51 

delay come unto me, lamenting thy fault 
and bewail it with me, lying proftrate at 
my feet, and rife again with me, leaning 
thyfelf upon me ; that is, repofe thy confi- 
dence in my power, refolving firmly to 
amend, and never to offend in it again. I 
know man's weaknefs in general, I know 
alfo thine in particular, and how apt man 
is of his own frailty to fall, and how it pro- 
ceedeth from the malice of the devil for a 
man to be unwilling to ftand, or unwilling 
to rife again after he is fallen. Which thing 
cannot only be by no means excufed, but 
alfo receiveth without my mercy a heavier 
damnation. I require nothing of thee but 
a good will, and nothing is in my eyes more 
precious than the fame. 

16. Wherefore, if thou wanteft force, 
ability, or time to do good works, be not 
difmayed, for thy good will doth fully con- 
tent me. Retain ever within thyfelf a good 
will, for by it thou mayefh fatisfy for all 
thy defefts, and repair all thy faults, al- 
though thou art able to do nothing befides. 
When thou thinkeft me fartheft from thee, 
then am I neareft unto thee. Therefore, 



52 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

my Daughter, as foon as thou fhalt find 
that thou haft offended, condemn thyfelf, 
and prefently running unto me, confefs 
thyfelf guilty, and make complaint againft 
thyfelf unto me. Thou canft not no fooner 
be repentant, than I have granted thee my 
pardon ; neither canft thou fooner afk for- 
givenefs, than I have quite remitted and 
forgiven all. 

17. Wherefore, then, O my Spoufe, doft 
thou ftay from returning unto me 1 Thy 
fafety is not procured in flying from me, 
but in flying unto me. In whatfoever thou 
feeft that thou haft moft offended, where 
thou findeft that thou haft ofteneft fallen, 
to conclude, where thou perceiveft that 
thou haft moft declined from virtue, there 
cry ofteneft unto me, there figh unto me 
with more frequent groans, and defire, with 
all fervency at my hands, both pardon for 
thy fins and the proteftion of my grace. 

18. Be not wearied with temptations, but 
always refift them as much as thou canft ; 
neither yield thyfelf as vanquiftied by them, 
or as a prifoner unto them. As long as 
thou refifteft thou art never overcome. For 



To the Faithful Soul. 53 

whatfoever thou feeleft, and art enforced to 
fuffer (as long as thou fufifereft it againft 
thy will, and refifting it as I told thee 
before), I will never impute it to thee as a 
fault, becaufe I require not an account at 
thy hands of that thou feeleft, but of that 
to which thou confenteft. To feel motions 
of fin is ingrafted, as it were, in thy flefh ; 
but to confent unto it refteth in thy own 
choice. There may be a certain kind of 
violence offered to the flefh and fenfes, but 
the will can never be compelled. 

19. There are two things in tempta- 
tion : one, the matter whereunto thou 
art tempted, and that is a fin, and im- 
perfeftions ; thefe thou muft never confent 
unto, neither yet yield thyfelf in any 
fort unto them, but refift them with all 
thy might. The other is, that labour 
and diftrefs which thou doft endure in re- 
fifting them ; and this thou muft patiently 
abide and yield unto, as long as it is my 
pleafure that thou fhalt be tem.pted. For 
thou oughteft not to refift me, but to fub- 
je6l thyfelf wholly unto my will, and to 
refift thofe motions which thou art ftirred 



54 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

unto by the means of temptation, that thou 
mayeft continue ftill in my favour, receive 
my grace, and be partaker of my confola- 
tion. 

20. But I know what thou wilt fay, for I 
am not ignorant of thofe things which thou 
doft fuffer, and wherewith thy heart is 
affli6led. I will tell thee them, therefore, 
fmce thou art afhamed to tell them thyfelf, 
that by it thou mayeft be the better affured 
to receive remedy and confolation for them 
at my hands. The temptation of thy flefh 
doth affault thee, not only every day, but 
every moment. To refift this continually 
is troublefome and grievous, and to efcape 
it without fighting is impoffible. To fight 
long, and not to be wounded, is, in thy 
judgment, not only hard but miraculous. 
He that is thy enemy is very familiar with 
thee ; thou carrieft him about with thee in 
every place ; thou art not permitted to 
deftroy him, but thou art enforced to 
nourifh him. His weapons are many, his 
manner of fight divers, and his affaults 
very violent, as the fiery heats, the fervent 
motions, the delightful allurements, the 



To the Faithful Soul. 55 

terrible perturbations, the cruel onfets, the 
fweet pleafures of all kinds of luft and con- 
cupifcence, and many fuch other which fome 
men do feel raging in their flefh like certain 
furies of hell. Now the ftrong impreffions 
and delegations of them being in a man- 
ner violent, and joined with thefe fancies, 
are almoft sufficient to vanquifh all thy 
fenfes. 

21. Moreover, the inftability and incon- 
ftancy of fome men's hearts are fo great, that 
even in the very moment wherein they pre- 
pare themfelves to refift thefe temptations, 
they are prefently, as it were, fallen befide 
themfelves, and clean forgetting that which 
they had determined, they begin to think 
of that which they did refufe to think of 
before. Now, who amongft thefe dangers 
(fayeft thou) can efcape fafe ? Who can fly 
away from fin unwounded ? Only a good 
and humble will, for to it there can no 
violence be offered. For whatfoever thou 
thinkeft, chaftity is not polluted with it, but 
with the confent of thy mind ; that is, what- 
foever thou feeleft in thy flefh fhall not be 
imputed to thee for fin, if thy mind confent 



56 An Epijile of Jefiis Ckriji 

not thereunto ; for whatfoever is fin, muft 
be voluntary, and as long as it is not volun- 
tary, it is not fin. 

22. Therefore, with how great tempta- 
tions foever thou art oppreffed — nay, though 
thy flefh do feem to be overwhelmed with 
them, and thy fenfes as prifoners unto 
them, yet whatfoever thou feeleft delight- 
ful to thy flefh, keep thy mind free (that is, 
thy reafonable will), and then nothing can 
hurt thee. Cry out with the deteftation of 
thy foul againft them, and with a voice 
that doth abhor them, Fye, fye, I will not, I 
will not. Turn unto me with all the force 
thou art able, and repeat often this fhort 
fentence: O, my God, help me; Oy merciful 
Jefus, I will not yield unto them, help 7ne. 

23, Moreover, though moft loathfome 
and horrible temptations do creep into thy 
mind, yet for all that be thou not dif- 
mayed ; as they creeped in fo let them 
creep out, and by that gate wherein they 
did enter let them depart ; and let them not 
only out themfelves, but carry out with 
them anything that is naught and unclean 
within thee, that they may leave thy houfe 



To the Faithfttl Soul, 57 

fwept and cleanfed. And this thou mayeft 
eafily do, if thou wilt enter into a deep 
confideration to know thyfelf, and call 
upon me only with a firm confidence, and 
with a great humility ; neither feeking to 
fpare thyfelf, nor ceafing to perfecute thine 
enemies. For it is a moft prefent remedy 
againft all inclinations, to remember as 
foon as ever thou fhalt find an evil inclina- 
tion in thy mind how thou art nothing, and 
haft nothing of thyfelf but by my grace 
only, and how impoffible it is for thee, with 
any ability of thine own, to refift thefe 
motions. Therefore, presently fly unto 
me with all thy heart, and feek aid and 
proteftion from my wounds which I fuf- 
fered for thy fake, at the fight whereof the 
ancient enemy of mankind doth yet quake 
and tremble. 

24. Believe me (my Daughter) although 
thou be haunted as much as is poffible for 
thee with carnal thoughts, fenfual motions, 
violent cogitations, and imaginations, and 
although thou feel in this behalf as much 
as may be devifed, yet as long as reafon 
hath the upper-hand, and doth gainfay 



58 A 71 Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

them, and as long as thy reafonable and 
dehberate will doth not make choice of 
them, thou haft neither loft charity nor my 
grace. This diftrefs which thou doft fuf- 
tain, and thefe ftraits, whereinto thy 
heart is driven by the means of this con- 
flift, may be a plain argument unto thee, 
that thou haft not confented unto them, 
and fo confequently a great comfort to thy 
mind. For if thou hadft confented unto 
them, that is, if thou hadft willingly felt 
thofe things which thou didft feel, if thou 
hadft willingly retained thofe cogitations 
which did enter into thy mind, thou 
fhouldft not then have felt this diftrefs, 
this combat, and fharp conflift, but rather 
all peace and tranquillity in thy foul. 

25. Receive a fimilitude (O my Daugh- 
ter) at my hands for thy comfort. If any 
man in fight hand to hand be overcome, 
vanquifhed, bound, yea, and beaten, and 
although he be fo ftraitly holden, as he 
hath not ability to ufe his own limbs ; yet, 
if he yield not himfelf as a prifoner and 
vanquifhed, but refifteth with as much force 
as he is able, and confenteth not to this his 



To the Faithftil Soul. 59 

captivity, he can never be faid to be con- 
quered or overcome. In like manner, thou 
fhalt never be judged of me to be over- 
come, whether thou be tempted of the 
flefh or the devil, except thou confent with 
thy mind, and ceafeft to refift them. Thou 
muft feel many things, which thou ought- 
eft not to confent unto, that is, which thou 
oughteft not to feel with thy good will, and 
with a certain delight. 

26. But thou wilt fay, it is very painful 
to be in continual fight; it is painful to re- 
nounce thofe things which thou coveteft; it 
is painful not to think of thofe things 
wherein thou delighteft ; it is painful to per- 
fecute thofe things which thou loveft. O 
my Daughter, thou doft confifb of two 
parts, that is, of the flefh, and of the fpirit, 
and therefore thy defires are divers ; and 
thofe things which delight the flefh are 
painful to the fpirit. If it feem painful to 
the flefh to ofl'er violence to itfelf, if it 
cannot hate itfelf, let the fpirit reign, let 
the fpirit have the royal fovereignty and 
imperial authority in thee, and fhe will not 
think it any pain to bring her enemy, that 



6o All Epijile of Jefits Chrijl 

is, the flefh, under her yoke and fubje6lion. 
That which feemeth at the firft heavy, and 
almoft intolerable, by continual ufe of fight- 
ing Cometh to be light, and may well be 
endured ; for the oftener that thou refifteft 
thy enemy, thou art the ftronger, and he 
the weaker. For doft thou not know 
that the kingdom of heaven fuffereth vio- 
lence, and that the violent bear it away ? 
Fight, therefore, manfully : the oftener and 
the more ftoutly that thou doft do it, the 
more eafy fhalt thou ever find it. 

27. Remember alfo that, as the tempta- 
tions fhall end fo the fight fhall not always 
continue, and that an eternal crown of 
glory, which is due to the conqueror, doth 
remain for thee. The fharper thy fight is, 
the more glorious thy crown of viftory 
ihall be. And, therefore, if thou overcomeft, 
being tempted, thou fhalt have a double 
reward ; whereas, if thou hadft never been 
tempted, thou fhouldft have received but a 
fmgle. Moreover, the fiercer that thou art 
affaulted with the temptation of fm, the 
clearer fhalt thou be purged from thy fms, 
if thou doft not confent unto it. And 



To the Faithful Soul. 6i 

although in this conflift, efpecially when a 
heavy temptation doth furioufly rage in thy 
flefh, there are many venial fins wont to 
be committed (which are given as light 
wounds to thofe that fight), yet notwith- 
ftanding, that pain which is endured by 
continuing ftill in fight, and by refifting of 
mortal fins, doth on the contrary part take 
away all that pain, which the venial fins 
do deferve. 

28. Befides, that charity wherewith thou, 
fighting for my fake, doft avoid mortal 
wounds, and takeft great pain in ftriving 
for virtue, doth not only heal thy leffer 
wounds, but alfo doth turn them to thy 
greater glory and reward, if thou fhalt per- 
fectly overcome thefe temptations as the 
fears of a foldier's wounds, which he re- 
ceived by fighting manfully in a mofh fierce 
battle, are fhewed after the viftory to his 
great honour ; and the fharper the battle 
was, the greater is his glory. Fear not, 
therefore, my Daughter, if thou art to fight 
long, or if thy temptation do continue 
ftrong, if thou canft not prevail fo far over 
thy fenfuality as to make it in all things 



62 An Epijlle of yefits Chrijl 

fubje6l to thy reafon, yet always refift it, 
never give it place, never grant it peace 
nor quietnefs. Thy battle againft it, the 
confli6l which thou didft endure in refifting 
of it, I will efteem as a viftory and con- 
queft over it. 

29. For it is not only good to overcome 
evil, but with all thy might to refift evil ; 
yea, it is fometimes more honourable and 
profitable for thee, by continuing in fight, 
to fuftain longer the affaults of thine ene- 
my and the labour of the conflift, than 
quickly to have vanquifhed him, efpecially 
when it is done by my providence (which 
difpofeth of all, ever for the beft, towards 
thofe that love me), and not by thy own 
floth or negligence. For I, who am a moft 
upright and wife judge, do mark the tra- 
vail and force of every one of my foldiers, 
and do more efteem in them their will 
than their ability ; becaufe to be able to 
conquer proceedeth of my gift, but to be 
willing to conquer refteth in their own 
choice ; and yet not that neither without 
my grace. 

30. Wherefore, although my grace muft of 



To the Faithful Soul. 6 



o 



neceffity affist you in both, yet itrefteth more 
in your own choice to be willing to do well 
than to be able to do well ; which I con- 
fidering (O my Daughter) do better allow 
in thee a will to do much than ability to 
perform much. It is alfo both meet, and 
agreeth with juftice, that the longer thou 
fightefl, and the more pain thou takeft, 
thou fhouldft receive the larger reward ; 
and not only a reward in the life to come, 
but even here grace for grace ; that is, for 
every good work which you do by my 
grace, you fhall receive a reward, and fome 
benefit or other by my gracious favour 
in this prefent world. 



Chap. VII. 

How we mujl Fly the Occajions of 

Temptation. 

AKE a fpecial care that thou art 
not an occafion of thine own 
temptation or deftru6lion, in 
giving thine enemy, by thine 
own fault, opportunity to affault thee, and 




64 An Epijile of yefiis Chrijl 

ability to overthrow thee. For avoiding 
whereof, fly provocations of temptation, re- 
ftrain thy fenfes from wandering, fhew the 
famiharity and private friendfhip both of 
men and women, whereby fometimes the 
devil doth find an opportunity to tempt 
thee under the colour of devotion or fpi- 
ritual love. For thefe things, for the moft 
part, do leave behind them grievous temp- 
tations, of doubtful fufpicions, perturba- 
tions, diftraftions, or elfe fome fcandals of 
violent love and afifeftion. 

2. If thy enemy which fought to take thy 
life flood at thy door, wouldft thou fufifer 
him to come in 1 How quickly and care- 
fully wouldft thou fhut and bar the gates 
againft him ! Now, thefe carnal and vicious 
imaginations, cogitations, and affe£lions 
do feek by all means to enter thy heart, 
and to deftroy the life of thy foul — wilt 
thou then let them come in } Do not 
fufifer them to enter ; drive me not away, 
but keep them out of thy houfe by force, and 
with a horrible deteftation of them. Turn 
thy heart unto me, and, if thou feel anything 
in thy flefh, turn thy heart away from it. 



To the Faithful Soul. 65 

3. Punifh thy flefh when it waxeth 
proud or wanton, with abftinence and 
temperance, both in meat and drink. Cut 
off all accefs of perfons, all haunting of 
places, and all taking of any occafions 
whereby thou perceiveft thyfelf to be 
tempted. And beware, above all things, 
that thou yield not thine own members fo 
far to iniquity, as that the devil do make 
them inftruments of iniquity, and fo by thy 
negligence take opportunity to wound thee 
with thine own weapons. And therefore 
corre6l the pride of thy flefh with fuch 
ffcrait difcipline, and bridle it with fo 
great modefty and baflifulnefs, that even 
for very fervent love of fhame and chaftity, 
thou mayeft fcarce prefume to fee or touch 
any naked part of thy hands or feet. 

4. And for all unclean cogitation, which 
fhall chance to be ftill importunate upon 
thee, drive them out, as it were one nail 
with another, by fome godly meditation, 
and imprinting in thy mind fome holy im- 
preffion of my life and paffion.. For, to 
think of my wounds and paffion doth ever 
yield, without all doubt, a continual and 

F 



66 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

wonderful increafe of virtue. For if I have 
infufed into herbs, ftones, and roots, rare 
virtues to expel many difeafes of the body, 
how unfpeakable and how effe6lual is the 
virtue I have given to my wounds and 
paffion for expelling of fpiritual difeafes, 
and both curing and fanftifying of the foul. 



Chap. VIII. 

When Spiritual Temptations are to be 
Conquei'ed, 

|F filthy and unclean thoughts, as it 
often happeneth, do at fome time 
enter into thy mind againft me 
and my faints ; or elfe that thou 
be tempted with blafphemy and rebellious 
cogitations ; let it never henceforth trouble 
thee, nor yet make thee faint-hearted ; 
neither be thou perplexed in thy mind with 
thinking how to make thy confeffion of any 
fuch matter, as long as thou doft not with 
advifed and deliberate confent yield unto 
them. For they carry with them more 
grief than delight, and thou rather fufifereft. 




To the Faithful Soul, 67 

than doeft thofe things, being for that time 
altogether in paffion and nothing in aftion. 

2. Wherefore, he that carrieth a pure mind 
need not either to fear them or confefs them. 
For although a godly mind may feem to 
be by this means a little polluted, yet is it 
not defiled by her own fault and negligence. 
And, therefore, fuch things as thefe, which 
procure great heavinefs to a devout heart, 
and my Spoufe (becaufe fhe is enforced to 
feel within herfelf, and to be turmoiled with 
fuch filthy imaginations and cogitations 
againft me, as thofe who are the greatefl: 
finners do abhor) are rather an affliftion 
and purgation unto her, than any defiling 
or pollution of her. For the Devil, whilft 
he feeth thee withdrawn from all other 
things whatfoever, and only to thirft after 
me, doth endeavour to trouble this quiet 
peace of thine, and to hinder and to keep 
thee from being united unto me, by thefe 
fancies which feem both odious and horrible. 

3. Wherefore the more holy that the day 
is, the more earneftly thou doft bend thy- 
felf to the exercife of divine a6lions, the 
more thou doft feek to lift up thy heart, and 



68 An Epijtle of Jefus Chriji 

the more vehemently that thou doft ftrive 
to unite thyfelf wholly unto me ; the more 
violently, wickedly and importunately do 
thefe imaginations affault thee, being ftirred 
up either by the Devil or by fome timorous 
fearfulnefs of thy own ; becaufe as foon as 
thy foul doth begin to abhor and fear a 
thing, fhe doth prefently feel and find the 
fame which fhe feareth, or for which fhe 
is afraid. For fear and faint-heartednefs 
do quicklieft thruft into a man's mind 
that imagination which is feared. And the 
Devil alfo doth raife thefe perturbations 
and motions within thy foul, that whilft 
thou art bufied in feeking to refift them, 
thou mayefl: be withholden from feeling 
the fweet tafle of my charity ; or elfe, being 
too much difmayed with them, thou mayeft 
be afraid, and not prefume to approach 
unto me. 

4. The Devil doth this becaufe he de- 
lighteth to entangle thy mind with fcruples 
and perturbations, and by them to hinder 
the fabbath of thy quiet reft. But do not 
regard them, do not fear them, do not 
anfwer them, do not refifl them, do not ob- 



To the Faithftcl Soul. 69 

ferve them, but go forward in thy godly 
devotion and holy exercife, as though thou 
felt nothing, and as though thy mind were 
troubled with nothing ; and pafs over all 
thefe filthy cogitations, as the barking of a 
cur, or the hiffing of a goofe, to which a 
man will difdain to make an anfwer, and 
will not flay either to contend or ftrive with 
them, but only pafs by them, and laugh at 
them. In doing thus, thou fhalt eafily 
avoid and quickly forget them. But if 
thou feekeft to refift them, to difpute with 
them, to fear them, to regard them, to 
hearken unto them, and to remove them; 
thou fhalt ftill the more deeply imprint 
them in thy mind, and the more danger- 
oufly entangle thyfelf with great pertur- 
bation. For thefe temptations are not van- 
quifhed by fighting with them, but by con- 
temning of them. 

5. Take heed alfo, that no temptation 
overcome thee by importunity, and by 
making thee weary to refift it, for this is an 
ufual pra6lice of the Devil to vex fome with 
fo long and troublefome a temptation, that 
he overcometh thofe by trying them with 



70 An Epiftle of^ J ejus Chriji 

that wicked device of his, whom he could 
neither deceive by fubtlety, nor entice by 
pleafure. Wherefore thou haft need to be 
long-fuffering, conftant, and patient ; and 
as thou oughteft to deteft thofe wicked 
cogitations, which are thrown into thy mind 
by the craft of the Devil againft my honour, 
and are brought in of purpofe to feduce thee; 
fo thou mayeft in no fort either miflike 
or feek to fhun that affliction which I fefid 
unto thee, nor thofe heavy and troublefome 
burthens which thou feeleft by my will and 
providence laid upon thee ; nor yet that 
pain which thou takeft in any conflict, when 
thou ftrivefl to refift vice and iniquity, but 
thou oughteft for my fake to bear them 
patiently, and without any grudging. 

6. Of this alfo I am to warn thee, that 
if thou be tempted with any carnal vices, 
as gluttony and concupifcence, thou mayeft 
more eafily vanquifh them by flying them, 
than by fighting with them ; but on the 
contrary part, all fpiritual vices are ever 
overcome, not by flightly paffing over 
them, but by ftaying with good confidera- 
tion upon them, and doing the contrary of 



To the Faithful SouL 71 

that to which they allure thee. For the 
temptation of pride is neither any whit 
diminifhed, nor yet vanquifhed, by flying 
all occafions that may any way move thee 
to humble thyfelf, that is, by flying all the 
means that may procure humility in thee, 
in hope by that courfe to abate the force, 
and avoid the motions of that temptation. 
But if thou wilt overcome it, ftay advifedly 
upon it, and enforce thyfelf to do thofe 
things that may humble thee. 

7. Thou fhalt after the fame fort overcome 
envy, if prefently and violently, as it were in 
fpite of her, thou doft thofe things from 
which fhe diffuadeth thee ; that is, if thou 
fpeakeft to thy brother, if thou feekeft to 
do him fervice, if thou doft humble thyfelf 
unto him. In like manner alfo, thou fhalt 
never conquer flothfulnefs flying all tra- 
vail, or by neglefting the divine honouring 
and ferving of me, and by feeking to with- 
draw thyfelf, that thou mighteft not be 
commanded to labour, and take pains ; but 
by enforcing thyfelf with all thy might, and 
by applying wholly of thy mind to praftife 
and perform devout and virtuous exercifes. 



72 All Epijlle of Jefics Chrijl 



Chap. IX. 
How we ought to take heed of Envy, 

^^^^EWARE of envy as much as 
i ^^J poffibly thou canft, that by it 
9 ^^^ ^hou be not brought to miflike 
^^ ' with any man, to fpeak in de- 
rogation of him, to prefer thyfelf before 
him, to moleft and vex him, and to be alfo 
thyfelf vexed (if he be preferred before 
thee) with his virtue, with his honour, with 
his commendation, or with his fpiritual 
profit. 

2. To overcome this temptation, be more 
courteous and lowly unto him, my daughter, 
than to another ; fpeak nothing of him thy- 
felf, nor hear him fpoken of in his abfence ; 
neither yet let anything proceed from thee 
in word, deed, or fhow, that may feem to 
favour of envy, or to fpring from that 
venomous root. 




To the Faithful Soul, J2> 



Chap. X. 

How we imijl fiy Smgularity, 

jHEW not in thy converfation 
with others any fad or unquiet 
countenance, but a courteous 
kind of behaviour, left thy con- 
verfation feem troublefome or unpleafant 
unto them. 

2. Beware of being fingular, and ufing 
any particular fafhion by thyfelf, different 
from the reft, in any unneceffary ceremony, 
aft, or fhew of devotion, when thou art in 
other men's company ; and as for thofe 
points which are profitable for thy foul, 
which thy calling and Chriftian profeffion 
requireth at thy hands, and which are ne- 
ceffary, either for obtaining of virtue or 
avoiding of fms, fear not to be fingular 
in them ; conform not thyfelf in thofe to 
other men's fancies, if they be carelefs of 
their own falvation ; but rather refolve for 
the benefit of thine own foul, the obtaining 



74 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

of virtue, and the fulfilling of my good 
pleafure, conftantly, humbly, and patiently 
to bear all their derifions, and perfecutions 
for the fame. 



Chap. XI. 

Of the Honour^ Reverence^ and Worjhip 
which we ought to exhibit tmto the Mother 
of God. 

|ALUTE my Mother often and 
zealoufly, with thy fervent pray- 
ers ; and honour her ever with 
all reverence and a principal 
devotion, by feeking diligently to imitate 
both her life and her virtue. For I gave 
her to this world as a perfe6l example of 
fan6lity, innocency, and purity, as a fmgu- 
lar patronefs, and moft fafe refuge for all 
my fervants, and as a fanftuary of fo great 
freedom to all thofe which are in mifery 
and tribulation; as no man might have 
caufe to millike it, no man might fear to 
take it, nor yet be in doubt to approach 
unto it. 




To the Faithful SoicL 75 

2. And to that end I made her fo meek, 
fo virtuous, fo merciful, fo gentle, and fo 
gracious, as fhe might defpife no man, deny 
her aid to no man, but ever lay open her 
bofom of pity before all men, and not to 
fuffer any man to depart from her fad, nor 
without confolation. I made her alfo gra- 
cious, amiable, worthy to be beloved, and 
after a wonderful fort moft fweet and de- 
lightful to thofe who otherwife were def- 
perate and obftinate fmners, that fhe might 
be a meet bait for my hook to catch all 
fouls, but fpecially fuch as could by no 
other means be taken. For thofe heinous 
fmners who break out of all other nets, and 
for whom I cannot find an apt courfe by 
any other way to draw them unto me, I 
ufe to catch by her means ; that is, by the 
veneration of her, and their devotion to- 
wards her, whom I make to tafte moft 
fweet in their hearts, and excite thofe who 
are hard-hearted towards me, to perform 
good works unto her, — that is, a6ls of vene- 
ration, devotion, confidence, and invocation, 
and by this means I make them veffels 
fitter and worthier to receive my grace, and 



76 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

greater illumination from me, until they 
attain to a more reformed and, for the 
moft part, a moft holy courfe of life. 

3. Recommend thyfelf daily, therefore, 
unto her proteftion, that by her help thou 
mayeft receive greater grace and favour at 
my hands. For I committed unto her 
cuftody the whole treafure of my grace and 
mercy, to be diftributed and beftowed, 
when I recommended unto her all' my fons, 
in the person of John^ as her fons, but fpe- 
cially fmners, for whom I did at that pre- 
fent fufifer. This fhe knoweth very well, and 
therefore is fo careful and diligent to dif- 
charge the office fhe received from me, as 
fhe fuffereth none of thofe (as far as lieth 
in her power) which were committed unto 
her, and principally fuch as call upon her, to 
perifh, but refereth them unto me, both 
with her earneft prayers and by all the 
other means fhe is able, that they may be 
reconciled unto me, and received again into 
my favour. 

4. Doft thou think then, my daughter, 
that I could have chofen any more fit and 
more meet for this bufinefs } Could I 



To the Faithful Soul. 77 

have found any that had been fo apt and 
able every way to have difcharged this 
office ? Doft thou think that fuch as are 
forrowful, defolate, and overwhelmed with 
their fins, will defire any other mediator 
for them unto me, who may fue more 
faithfully in their behalf, and be more 
gracioufly inclined to receive them, and 
more ready to bring them unto me, than 
this woman, this moft humble, mofl pitiful, 
moft meek, and moft loving Virgin, abound- 
ing with all fweetnefs and mercy, being 
moft mighty of herfelf to relieve fmners, 
and moft acceptable unto me becaufe ftie is 
my mother, yea, even his mother whofe 
wrath is to be pacified and appeafed 
towards them? 

5. Alas, how far do they err ; how great 
a burthen of wilful obftinacy and perdition 
do they heap upon their own backs, who 
do mutter and murmur againft this holy 
Virgin, who hath the cuftody and beftow- 
ing of my graces, and will not acknowledge 
her for an advocate unto me as I am to my 
Father? Doft thou think that they can by 
any means throw themfelves more head- 



78 An Epijlle of Jefiis Chrijl 

long into the bottomlefs pit of hell, than 
by making her their enemy (for whofe fake 
I have fo often fpared the world, and fo 
often forborne to pour my wrath upon 
men), that when there is none to be a media- 
tor for them, or to withhold my hand which 
is ready bent to punifh them, I may, with- 
out any let or impediment, ftrike them as 
often and as much as I will ? But what 
greater pain or punifhment can I lay upon 
thefe men, than not to chaften them tempo- 
rally here as children, but to deliver them 
over as my enemies into a reprobate fenfe, 
that they being blind may not fee into 
what danger they run, until they find them- 
felves drowned in perpetual darknefs, and 
overwhelmed with eternal deftruftion? 

6. I do ufe thefe exhortations unto 
thee, as unto my Spoufe, of mere love and 
good-will, that being inftrufled by my 
fpirit, thou mayeft not decline either in this 
or in any other matter whatfoever, be it 
never fo fmall, from the decrees and refolu- 
tion of doflrine, which my holy Catholic 
Church hath determined and refolved 
upon ; nor yet fuffer thyfelf to be deceived 



To the Faithftd SouL 79 

by that wicked and malignant fpirit of 
theirs, which pretend in fhow to be followers 
of the Gofpel, and are in truth nothing 
less. 



Chap. XII. 
Of Senjible Devotion. 

iF thou findeft not fenfible devo- 
tion, be not therefore grieved 
nor deje6led in thy foul, but do 
with a ftout and conftant mind 
(although thou feeleft it dry and barren) 
whatfoever thou knoweft to be for my 
honour, and as much as thou art able to 
perform in that behalf. There are many 
who, fhedding tears, do feem to have fome 
fpiritual devotion and fweet tafte in their 
foul, and yet their life is never a whit the 
holier, nor themfelves at that time free from 
mortal fm, but it proceedeth from a certain 
tendernefs of their heart, as is often feen 
in women, and alfo in men, that are by 
nature paffionate and full of compaflion. 
Have no confidence, therefore, in that devo- 




8o An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

tion which doth not better and amend thy 
life. 

2. Thou {halt fee fome weep often, and 
be forrowful for the death of a valiant 
captain, whofe worthy and famous a6ls 
they have only read, though he were a 
Gentile or a Pagan. They will weep alfo 
fometimes if they read of a heavy parting 
or a pitiful death of two conftant lovers. 
What wonder is it, then, if they weep at my 
moft holy and devout fervice, by feeing 
many pathetical things done in the wor- 
fhipping of me, or by taking compaffion of 
thofe things which I did fuffer for them, or 
by rejoicing at that honour which is done 
unto me, and yet thefe tears proceed from 
a natural paffion of their heart, without any 
virtuous intention or profitable fruit to their 
fouls, as long as they do not my will, and 
fulfil my commandment } If, therefore, 
thou findeft thy heart hardened and barren, 
without fuch devotion, endeavour thou to 
have another kind of devotion, which is a 
true, perfe6l, and ready will, with a deter- 
mined refolution to do all thofe things 
which may honour and pleafe me. 



To the Faithful Soul. 8i 

3. Moreover, for the want of the other, 
that is, fenfible devotion, feek out the true 
caufe and reafon, left perhaps thou haft loft 
that fweet tafte in thy foul, by fome diffo- 
lute motion, by lightnefs, by inordinate 
love, or unmeafureable joy, or left thou haft 
been too much bufied with earthly cogita- 
tions, or elfe, left thou haft polluted thy 
foul with the fpots of pride, or haft fought 
to pleafe thine own fancy, or for fome fuch 
other vice and offence. In which cafe thou 
oughteft to be rather grieved for the caufe 
of this barrennefs of thy foul, that is, thou 
oughteft to be more forry for the fault which 
thou haft committed, than for the devotion 
which thou haft loft. Endeavour to cleave 
unto me, with a good and pure will, fevered 
from earthly affeftions, and with a naked 
and fimple underftanding, far from conceiv- 
ing of needlefs or unprofitable matters, and 
omit to do no good thing that either thou 
wert accuftomed to ufe before, or that 
may tend to my honour, but remain patient 
with renouncing of thine own appetite, and 
expe6l my pleafure, with refigning of thy- 
felf wholly unto the fame. 

G 



82 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

4. And although fomewhat,atfome times, 
do fuddenly break out of thy fenfual dif- 
pofition and outward man, or remain boihng 
in thy mind, which is not convenient for thy 
profeffion, or elfe, if there arife any per- 
turbations in thee, if thou fuffereft any 
diftrefs, if thou be oppreffed with the 
temptations of heavinefs in thy foul, refift- 
ing or murmuring, take fpecial care, that at 
the leaft thy inward and reafonable man, 
being fubje6l unto me, continue fettled in 
all tranquillity, in loving of my command- 
ments, and in labouring to fulfil them. 



Chap. XIII. 

Hozv we inujl Prepare Our/elves when we 
come to Receive the Blejfed Sacrament, 

|0 fpeak fomewhat by the way 
of that preparation which thou 
oughteft to make when thou 
comeft to receive the Bleffed 
Sacrament of my precious body, I am firft 
to admonifh thee that thou fhouldfb not be 




To the Faithful Soul, 8 



o 



difcouraged, although thou doft not fenfibly 
feel devotion in thee, yea, although thou 
findeft thyfelf troubled with horrible temp- 
tations, and affaulted with fome odious 
imaginations, which do invade thy mind. 
For this fenfible devotion of thy foul is not 
fo neceffary, but rather that reafonable de- 
votion of thy will, whereby thou doft believe 
well of my Sacrament, and whereby (not- 
withftanding thefe blafphemous thoughts 
which do affail and almoft overwhelm thee) 
thou mayeft be moved to do all honour 
and reverence to my Sacrament, although it 
be againft thine appetite, contrary to thy 
liking, and repugnant to the fenfe or opinion 
of thine own heart. 

2. And laftly, that thou mayeft by this 
enforcing of thyfelf againft thy carnal de- 
fire, find thy will ready, and prepared with 
all obedience to honour me, to give me 
thanks, to refign thyfelf wholly unto me, 
and to fubjeft thy mind fo far to my liking, 
as that it may be beft contented with that 
which agreeth moft with my pleafure. If 
thou haft this devotion, my Daughter, which 
thy reafonable will may eafily command 



84 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

and procure in thee, that is, if thou be forry 
that thou haft ever offended me, and deter- 
mined never to offend me again, but to 
endeavour as much as poffibly thou canft 
in all things to obey my will, thou mayeft 
come boldly unto this Sacrament, thou 
mayeft enter fecurely into my prefence ; for 
neither reafonable nor fenfible devotion, 
neither virtue, nor yet my grace is obtained 
by flying from me, but by approaching near 
unto me. 

3. Therefore, the fadder and the more 
defolate that thou findeft thyfelf, yea, al- 
though it be at that time when thou art 
going to confeffion, or to receive my Bleffed 
Body, the more earneftly and vehemently 
excite and enforce thyfelf to proceed in thy 
good purpofe, that thou mayeft be made 
ftronger in grace, more conftant in goodnefs, 
and more fervent in love towards me. Pro- 
vided always, that thou carrieft with thee a 
pure intention and a good will, as I faid 
before. 

4. Neither let it trouble thee if, even in 
coming to receive this Bleffed Sacrament, 
there doth enter fome horror and terror into 



To the Faithful SouL 85 

thy foul, or if thou be fcarce able prefently 
to take and fwallow the Bleffed Hoft, or if 
thou find fome gallifh kind of bitternefs in 
thy tafte, for thefe are not certain figns 
that thou cameft unworthily to it ; but thou 
haft rather caufe to miftruft that fear, faint- 
heartednefs, and continual cuftom of trem- 
bling, have procured this imagination in 
thee, which is ftrongeft of all in women, and 
maketh thee to think that thou feeleft thofe 
things indeed, which either thou dreadeft to 
feel hereafter, or thou doft imagine that 
thou feeleft at that prefent. But if thou 
couldft clean remove this faint-heartednefs, 
and fearful imaginations of thine, thou 
fhouldft with it alfo clean expel this diffi- 
culty and diftrefs which thou findeft in thy 
mind. For albeit I could deliver thee from 
all thefe perturbations, yet do I permit 
fome fuch diftrefs as thefe to affault thee 
and other of my fervants, becaufe I know it 
is the beft means either to keep all of you 
humble, or, by humbling of you, to deliver 
you from the fm of pride, which is in 
woman moft ufual. 

5. Be therefore ftout, and carry a refolute 



86 An Epijile of defies Chri/l 

mind, that, fhaking off all womanifh fear 
or faint-heartednefs, and purging it from 
thofe filthy cogitations which do enter into 
thee, by contemning of them and their 
perfuafions, thou mayeft with a quiet mind, 
and a pure confcience, wholly dedicated 
to my fervice, defire me, feek me, and 
receive me in the Bleffed Sacrament, who 
am and will always remain unto thee (if 
the fault be not in thyfelf) a moft gracious 
lover, a moft gentle proteftor, a moft mer- 
ciful Redeemer, a moft loving preferver, and 
a moft faithful Saviour. But becaufe thou 
mayeft be inflamed with a greater reverence, 
love, and defire, towards this Bleffed Sacra- 
ment, I affure thee that, without all doubt, 
my body is there facramentally delivered 
unto thee, to be received under the form of 
bread. 

6. Wherefore, feeing it is the fame body, 
which I now carry glorified in heaven ; fee- 
ing it is no other, nor any like unto it, but 
even the very fame ; and feeing I carry not 
a body which is dead nor without blood, it 
foUoweth of neceffity that, together in the 
fame body, there muft be alfo contained 



To the Faithful Soul, 87 

my foul, my blood, my graces, and my 
virtues ; to all which, fmce the Word is 
united — that is, one perfon in Trinity — 
the two other perfons cannot be divided, 
but are infeparably united, it muft alfo 
follow, that the whole Trinity is prefent in 
this Sacrament, as truly and as verily as 
they are in heaven, though in another kind, 
that is, under a facramental form. The 
fame opinion thou mufl in like fort have of 
the Chalice, the new Teftament in my 
Blood ; confider, therefore, now with thyfelf 
with how great willingnefs and defire thou 
oughteft to come unto this Sacrament, fee- 
ing that thou haft in it true falvation, and 
that thou haft me really and perfe6liy 
there, who am the author of all thy happi- 
nefs. 

7. And becaufe I would not have thee 
drawn from it with too much timoroufnefs 
of thy confcience, or with too great a fear 
of the reverence and majefty thereof, I 
have commanded thee to come unto it, and 
to receive it for a commemoration of me, 
affuring thee that my delight is to be with 
the children of men, and that I do much 



88 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

rejoice when I may do any of you good, 
and to knock at the gate of your hearts, 
that being entered in, 1 may fup with you, 
and both feed and refrefh your hungry 
fpirit with myfelf And to what other end 
do I all thefe things, but only to procure 
you to have a hope and confidence in me, 
with a love and defire to come unto me, 
and not to withdraw yourfelves from fo 
profitable and neceffary a Sacrament, or to 
deprive your fouls of that infinite and inef- 
timable fruit, which you fhall receive there- 
by, for fear of being made unworthy by 
thefe temptations which you feel againft 
your will, and therefore are not by them 
polluted with any fin. 



Chap. XIV. 
Of Difcretion, 
|S humility mufl be the guide of all 
thy exercifes, fo let difcretion 
rule and moderate them, left 
they hurt thee, or make thee 
unable to do thy duty, or left the greater 
benefits and better exercifes of thy foul be 




To the Faithful Soul. 89 

hindered by the outward exercifes of thy 
body, which are not fo good, nor fo profit- 
able ; and to conclude, left by exercifing of 
any virtuous a6l thou doft fomewhat offend 
in breach of charity. 

2. Have confideration alfo of the infir- 
mity of thy body, and take care that thou 
confume not thy ftrength, if thou be weak, 
and govern all thy intents, ftudies, and exer- 
cifes by the dire6lion of fuch as fear me, or 
are thy fuperiors, leaving or leffening them, 
increafing or moderating them, according 
to their will and counfel. Wherefore, if thy 
fuperior, who hath the charge of thy foul, 
as being my deputy, and difcharging of that 
office in my ftead towards thee, forbid thee 
to faft, or any other thing that is not in 
itfelf fin, obey him, believing that he, know- 
ing thy ability every way, doth advife and 
command thee to that which may be fitteft 
and moft neceffary for thy falvation. 

3. And therefore, my Daughter, if thou 
art bidden to eat eight times in a day, thou 
fhalt not in obeying it offend me. Never- 
thelefs, retain ftill a will to faft, when thou 
haft liberty to ufe thine own difcretion. 



90 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

But if for obedience' fake thou eat, thou 
fhalt by eating receive of me a double re- 
ward, whereas otherwife by fafting thou 
fhouldft have had but only a fingle. For 
thy good will to faft, and the fruit of thy 
good will is not loft, if thou eateft to fhew 
only thy obedience ; but being done for 
obedience' fake, it is, together with obe- 
dience, crowned and rewarded in thee. In 
like fort it is in all other things which thou 
defireft of thine own will to do, and art 
enforced to omit only to fhew thy obe- 
dience. 

4. Seek daily, defire earneftly, fbudy con- 
tinually, to fet forth and advance my glory 
as much as thou art able, and wherefoever 
thou canft, and to fulfil my will both in 
thyfelf and in all others. Negle6l to do no 
good work that thou haft ability to perform, 
but go forward in goodnefs every day, and 
ftrive always to increafe in virtue ; but 
neither glory nor rejoice in thyfelf for all 
the travail, ftudy, and exercife which thou 
ufeft in doing of good works ; neither be 
thou comforted with it, as though thou 
hadft anything, wert anything, or able to 



To the Faithful Soul. 91 

do anything of thyfelf, but fix thine eyes 
ever upon thine own bafenefs and imbecility, 
remembering that thou art merely nothing 
but of my grace, and therefore afcribe all 
the good thou doft to me only. 

5. There are fome who are not contented 
with that correftion of their flefh which I 
do lay upon them, but do torment their 
bodies with indifcreet abftinence and immo- 
derate affliftions, and make themfelves by 
that means not only unapt and unable to 
obey me, to follow my fteps, and to endure 
the confli6ls of this fpiritual battle ; but alfo 
being tired and confumed in their natural 
ftrength by this indifcreet dealing, are en- 
forced to leave thofe exercifes which they 
were wont to ufe before, and to take more 
care of their flefh than is requifite or con- 
venient, for repairing of that which was 
decayed by their own folly. Wherefore, 
moderate thou thy exercifes and labours, 
according to the proportion of thy force 
and ability, left thou doft furcharge and 
overthrow thyfelf; and fail not by good 
means to nourifti thy body : it is my will 
that thou fhouldft comfort nature, and re- 



92 An Epiflle of J ejus Chnjl 

pair from time to time thine infirmity ; not 
with an extraordinary care or delight, but 
for the refreftiing of nature, as I faid before. 

6. And for the better enabling of thy 
body to do me fervice, to yield thyfelf a fit 
inftrument of my grace, to fulfil my will, to 
follow my commandment, and to do thofe 
works which are moft acceptable in my 
fight ; being always as ready, if it be my 
pleafure, to fuffer poverty, as to enjoy 
riches, and as willing to be fick as to be 
whole. But when thou fhalt not be com- 
pelled by difcretion to nourifh thy body for 
infirmity of nature, take heed left by im- 
patience or want of devotion, or of an infa- 
tiable defire to pleafe thine own appetite, 
thou feekeft evafions to efcape, and deliver 
thyfelf from thofe adverfities or troubles 
which I fend thee. But remember to receive 
fuch croffes as are of my fending gladly, 
fuftain them patiently, complain of them to 
nobody, bear them with long-fufiering, and 
flay with all meeknefs, expefting of my 
pleafure. 

7. Suffer me to deal with thee as I think 
fit, that by that tribulation which falleth 



To the Faithful SouL 93 

upon thee, my grace may work fome good 
effe6l in thee. This is much better and 
more profitable for thee, than that which 
of thine own head thou layeft upon thyfelf. 
For I would have thee to be fully perfua- 
ded, my Daughter, that I never permit thee 
to fufifer any tribulation but that it is for 
thy good, and for the purging and repairing 
of thy foul, which is weakened or impaired 
by fin, if thou wouldft believe me, and refer 
thyfelf wholly unto me, by bearing it with 
filence, and wait my leifure by patient fuf- 
fering thereof. For I will come at the laft, 
who am never abfent from thee, but am 
always ready in all places to affift thee. 

8. Beware, therefore, that thou deft not 
defpife thofe affliftions which I do fend and 
lay upon thee, for I will guide thee in them ; 
rely upon me, trufting in my providence 
and love towards thee, and not in thine own 
will and ability. Be content that I and 
other men do afili6l thee : in the meantime, 
do not thou perfecute thy flefh, but thy 
faults, and endure with patience whatfoever 
fhall happen unto thee. 




94 A^^ Epijlle of Jefits Chrijl 

Chap. XV. 

How we ought in all Things to Conform 
Ourf elves unto Chrijl. 

FAITHFUL Spoufe ought to be 
fo loving to her husband, as fhe 
fliould defire with all her heart 
ever to be with him, never with- 
out him, and at no time from him ; fhe 
fhould wifli to conform herfelf in all things 
unto her husband's mind, and be glad when 
fhe is in anything like unto him. After the 
fame manner thou mufh behave thyfelf. 
Confider my life, my aftions, and my vir- 
tues, whereby thou may eft learn what I love, 
and what doth pleafe me in thee. 

2. Now if thou wilt be a faithful fpoufe, 
O foul, thou oughteft to defire nothing fo 
much as to pleafe me, and to frame thyfelf 
in all things agreeable to my will. Where- 
foever, therefore, that I go, defire to accom- 
pany me ; whatfoever I do, ftudy to imitate 
me ; whatfoever I fufifer, be ready to fuffer 
with me ; and if by any occafion thou feel- 
eft tribulation, rejoice in it, becaufe by it 
thou art made like unto me. 



To the Faithful Soul, 95 

3. Confider and recount with thyfelf 
every one of my virtues, or at leaft the prin- 
cipal, whereby thou mayeft ftir up a defire 
in thy mind to imitate and follow me. It 
fhall be an eafier labour for thee than to cut 
off, mortify, and rafe out all thofe things 
which are contrary and unlike to my courfe 
of life ; that is, thy vices, thy wicked incli- 
nations, and corrupt affe6lions. And as I 
faid before, thou fhalt attain to fuch a habit 
of well-doing in time, by a ftudious will, a 
watchful care, and continual travail, that 
thou mayeft come hereafter to drive away 
that (as it were) with one blaft of wind, 
which thou canft now fcarce fcrape away 
with a file of iron. 



Chap. XVI. 
Of Poverty, 

EHOLD, therefore, firft my po- 
verty, who when I was rich made 
myfelf poor for thy fake ; how I 
came to mine own, and mine did 
not receive me ; how I was very poor, and 




96 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

as a ftranger and fojourner in a foreign 
land ; how my mother being lodged in an 
inn, as a gueft in a ftrange place, I was 
born in a ftable before the mouths of beafts, 
which, by the heat of their breath, might 
defend me from the bitter cold, being laid 
upon hay in a manger ; how I was re- 
deemed with the facrifice of poor innocents ; 
how, being an infant, I was driven into 
banifhment, brought up by the labour of 
my mother, and fed by alms at other folks' 
coft, having neither houfe nor lodging of 
mine own ; how I watched often in the 
mountains ; how I was defpoiled of all my 
garments at the time of my paffion, and 
died naked upon the Crofs ; being in fo 
great want of all things, as I could not 
have a drop of water in my moft extreme 
thirft, to refrefh my dried tongue ; laftly, 
how, after my death, I was buried in the 
grave that was made for another. 

2. Moreover, how often doft thou think 
that I fufifered in the whole courfe of my 
life, hunger, cold, thirft, and other vexations 
of my body ? And as for corporal confo- 
lation (which moft men do think very 



To the Faithful Soul. 97 

neceffary) I refufed, and utterly rejefted 
it, patiently enduring penury and po- 
verty in all things. But thou, when thou 
haft everything ready at hand that thou 
canft defire, thou doft flatter thyfelf, and 
thinkeft that thou liveft in poverty, and 
doft repine if thou canft not have every 
other thing that thou wanteft, although 
it be merely fuperfluous, and more to 
pleafe thy envious mind, than to ferve thy 
neceffary ufe. 

3. Look, therefore, upon my poverty, 
and leave off being fad, and ceafe to be 
offended if thou feeft any man preferred 
before thee, or endowed with greater abun- 
dance than thyfelf Why art thou not 
rather grieved like a good emulatrefs, if 
thou fee any one poorer than thyfelf, as S. 
Francis was ? If thou perceiveft any man 
(which opinion thou oughteft to carry of 
all men) more agreeable to my life and 
poverty than thyfelf, this Ihould be a good 
kind of emulation, not to be grieved with 
other men's happinefs, or that they are 
better than thou art, but to be heartily 
forry becaufe thou art not good thyfelf, 

H 



98 A 71 Epijlle of Jefus ChHJl 

and that it proceedeth of thine own fault 
and negligence. 

4. Rejoice, therefore, and receive it for 
a fpecial token of my grace, for an ex- 
ceeding benefit, if I make thee more 
agreeable to myfelf than other men, by 
fending thee fome grievous ficknefs, fome 
extreme poverty, mifery, misfortune, or 
contempt in this world. And if thou 
wanteft neceffary things, rejoice ; if they 
are taken away, be glad, and complain 
of it to no man, but embrace with me the 
crofs of poverty, being quiet and contented 
in thy mind, ufmg filence, and utterly 
renouncing of thine own felf. What doth 
it profit thee, my Daughter, if thou haft for 
my fake forfaken the world, her riches, 
her glory, and the comfort of thy friends, and 
art now troubled about a thing not worth a 
ftraw, or haft not yet abandoned all love for 
fuch vanities as are of no value, but art 
ready to fight, to be vexed, and to contend 
either for defire to attain them, or for fear 
to lofe them, and art not afraid in this 
behalf to break peace and charity with thy 
neighbour.'^ 



To the Faithful SouL 99 

5. Determine, therefore, now, and make 
a firm refolution from the bottom of thy 
heart, to contemn all things for the love of 
me, and be unwilling to poffefs anything, 
but even fuch as of neceffity thou art en- 
forced to ufe, delighting in all poverty, 
contempt, and penury; that thou mayeft 
be worthy to enjoy me, who, as I am better 
and more profitable for thee than a thou- 
fand worlds, fo ought I to be more efteem- 
ed, and more dearly beloved of thee, than 
all earthly things whatfoever. Why ftayefh 
thou, my Daughter ? Be encouraged with 
my example, be enflamed with my love, 
and feek earneftly in everything that apper- 
taineth to thyfelf, to live in all want and 
poverty. 

6. Moreover, think other men worthy of 
my confolation, becaufe they are my faith- 
ful fervants, being far better than thyfelf, 
and not fo unthankful as thou art. And, 
therefore, being moved with charity, and, 
as it were, enforced with compaffion, fuffer 
no man to want anything that thou mayeft 
fupply, but help all men with thy travail, 
thy fervice, thy friendfhip, and by all the 



lOO An Epijile of ye/us Chrijl ' 

other means that are within the compafs 
of thine ability. Whatfoever thou haft, 
think it to be other men's, that neither thou 
may eft love it when thou poffeffeft it, nor 
be grieved when thou lofeft it. What- 
foever thou doft enjoy, think it is given 
thee for other men's ufe, and to ferve their 
neceffity. 



Chap. XVII. 

Of Humility, 

ETEST and abhor with all thy 
heart the honour, glory, and 
favour of men, with all other 
flatteries and enticements of this 
deceitful world. Think no otherwife of 
thyfelf, but as a proud man, unthankful 
to me, fpiteful againft me, and, therefore 
(if I fhould reward thee according to thy 
deferts), worthy to be hated above all 
creatures, as one unworthy to be born by 
the earth, to receive breath by the air, or 
to be nourifhed and ferved by any of 
my creatures. Wherefore, afk always at 




To the Faithful Soul. loi 

my hands mercy and grace, not relying 
upon any work or merit of thine own, but 
trufting altogether in that only work of 
redemption which I finifhed for thee, and 
that unfpeakable mercy which I fhewed 
towards thee. Defire of me, with tears 
and fighs, perfe6l humility, that by it 
thou mayeft delight to lie hidden and un- 
known, to be contemned, and held in no 
eftimation. 

2. Endeavour, as much as thou canft, to 
love thofe things which are moft vile, and 
fhew greateft humility. Choofe, likewife, 
both to do and to have thofe things which 
are moft abje6l, and which other men do 
moft defpife, thinking thyfelf more bafe, 
and lefs worthy, than thofe things that are 
moft vile. Seek not to fet forth in thyfelf 
anything that may favour of eftimation, or 
glory, or that may fhew, as' it were, any 
fmgular gift in thee, except thou be 
enforced to it by neceffity, or of mere 
charity for the glory of God. Glory in 
nothing, neither yet boaft thyfelf of any- 
thing that is in thee. And if any man do 
offend or contemn thee, take heed thou be 



T02 An Epijlle of ye/us Chrijl 

not angry with him for it, neither ufe him 
with worfe countenance in fhew, nor bear 
him lefs good will in thy heart. But rather 
marvel that every creature doth not perfe- 
cute thee, to be revenged of the injury thou 
doft to me, who am Creator both of thee 
and all them, and whom, notwithftanding, 
thou art nothing at all afraid to offend. 



Chap. XVIII. 

How Humility is to be Obtained. 

|0 obtain humility, confider and 
behold my Majefty, my omni- 
potency, my wifdom, and my 
goodnefs, who only am immortal* 
only infinite, paffmg all meafure, without 
all limitation or circumfcription, unfpeak- 
able, incomprehenfible, from whom all 
creatures receive their being, and who am 
able with a beck, both to bring all creatures 
and the whole world unto nothing, and 
again prefently to reftore all things to their 
former courfe and order. Therefore, feeing 




To the Faithful Soul, 103 

I am every way of fo great power, you 
may eafily perceive that I created you, 
who are reafonable creatures, according to 
mine own image, not for neceiTity, or for 
any need that I had of you, but of my 
charity and goodnefs towards you, as per- 
fons upon whom I meant to beftow my 
benefits, and with whom I would impart 
my felicity. 

2. From which grace, fmce you fell by 
fin, whereby you made yourfelves, not only 
unworthy of eternal life, but juftly deferved 
eternal fire, I being incarnate for your 
fakes fufifered three-and-thirty years' hun- 
ger, thirft, cold, heat, miferies, labours, 
perfecutions, contempts, reproaches, ftripes, 
blows, wounds, griefs, torments, and laftly 
the Crofs, and death itfelf ; that I might 
deliver you from eternal death, which you 
had incurred by your own deferts, I lived, 
my Daughter, in the world not as a God, 
not as a mighty perfon, nor in a glorious 
fhew, but as the pooreft, vileft, bafeft, and 
mofl contemptible of all others ; being 
fubje6l to many torments and fundry 
reproaches, until at the laft I was flain, 



I04 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

with a moft fhameful and ignominious 
death, which the world did think I had 
juftly deferved, for they judged both my 
Hfe and do6lrine to be fo deteftable, as 
they thought it fit to root them both out 
of all men's memory, and to make them 
end with my death, whereat a great multi- 
tude of people being prefent, did triumph 
and rejoice. 

3. Yet went I as gladly to fufifer it as 
the hart doth to the fountains of water ; 
nay, being made drunk with my love 
towards thee, I ran unto it and was never 
well until I had endured it. I fpared not 
myfelf, neither fled I any labour, grief, pain, 
or torment whatfoever. I refufed to do 
nothing that might be for thy profit ; thou 
wert fo dear and precious in my fight, that 
I did even long with a defire to deliver 
myfelf for thy fake, to be wounded in all 
parts, with fundry kinds of torments, and 
for thy fake alfo, at the lafl, to end my life 
with a fhameful death. Moreover, becaufe 
I did vehemently thirft after thy falvation, 
I defired to fhed all my blood for thee, 
which I did in fuch plentiful fort, as I left 



To the Faithful Soul. 105 

not one drop thereof remaining within my 
body. 

4. But how doft thou, O my Daughter, 
requite me now for all this ? What doft 
thou render again unto me in recompenfe 
of fo great charity ? Is it not even thou 
who, being unthankful unto me fo many 
years, didft defpife me, didft not regard my 
words, didft loathe my fervice, and didft 
tranfgrefs my commandments ? And yet 
fhewing all reproach towards me, being 
moft unclean and vile in my fight ; being 
altogether polluted with fo many filthy 
abominations, thou doft baniflhi me from 
thee and thou doft reje6l my infpirations, 
thou committeft fornication with my crea- 
tures, thou abufeft my gifts. Why doft 
thou ftill contemn and forfake me, notwith- 
ftanding that I delivered thee out of moft 
heinous fins, and from eternal damnation 
itfelf, wherein thou hadft juftly lain burning 
many years fince, if my mercy had not 
prevented thee } 

5. To be fhort, why wilt thou defpife me, 
feeing I have fo often preferved thee from 
committing of many offences, and alfo 



io6 An Epiftle of J ejus Chrijl 

raifed thee out of the bottomlefs gulf of 
fin and wickednefs ? What, doft thou not 
yet at length confider that thou art vile, 
miferable, and merely nothing, but by my 
grace ? And how then dareft thou lift up 
thy face to behold me, whom thou haft fo 
often offended, fo long time defpifed, in fo 
fundry ways contemned ? I fpeak thefe 
things, my Daughter, to the end that thou 
shouldft know thyfelf. 

6. Confider how vile and filthy thou art 
in thy body, how much polluted in thy foul, 
and how impure in thy heart. And laftly, 
remember how unclean thou haft altogether 
made thyfelf with wicked works, with filthy 
cogitations, with corrupt and impure affec- 
tions, and yet, neverthelefs, how I ftill for- 
bear to punifti thee ; nay, notwithftanding 
all this, how I declare my love towards 
thee, with pouring my benefits daily upon 
thee ; but how long muft I do this ? Till 
what time muft I forbear with thee ? When 
wilt thou come to know thyfelf ? Hoav 
long wilt thou ftay to return unto me ? 
Why doft thou not humble thyfelf under 
my yoke ? Doft thou not fee that I am 



To the Faithful Soul. 107 

not longer able to withhold my mercies from 
thee ? Doft thou not perceive how I have 
called thee ; in what place I have planted 
thee ? Where are thy fruits ? Doft thou 
not know how I wink at all thine iniquities, 
all thine abominations, all thine unthank- 
fulnefs ? 

7. Yet I fpeak not thefe things, O my 
Daughter, to upbraid thee withthofe benefits 
which I have heaped upon thee, but, as it 
were, languifhing with love of thee ; and 
as it were, feeming to ftand in need of thee 
(though indeed I ftand in need of nothing) ; 
yea, being, as it were, not able to live 
without thee, I do invite thee to love me 
again for that unfpeakable goodnefs and 
charity which I have fhewed towards thee, 
that by loving me thou may eft perfeftly 
fee what I am, and what thou art ; how 
much I have done for thee, and how injurious, 
on the contrary, thou haft ftiewed thyfelf 
unto me for the fame. 

8. Moreover, confider how many and 
innumerable fouls are in hell at this day, 
and how thou haft been far more wicked 
than they, and more juftly deferved that 



io8 An Epiftle of J ejus Chriji 

place, if thou hadft not been withholden from 
it by my grace. Imagine likewife, that if 
they had received as much grace from me 
as thou haft done, they would have fhewed 
themfelves much more thankful unto me 
than thou haft been. If thou confidereft all 
thefe things, that is, my Majefty, and thine 
own bafenefs, how proud thou art in thy 
bafenefs, and how humble I was in my 
Majefty ; how far for thy fake I abafed 
myfelf to all poverty and contempt, it 
would not feem fo great a matter to thee 
to humble thyfelf. 

9. If, I fay, thou wouldft rightly ponder 
with thyfelf, in how much poverty, in how 
abjeft eftate, and in how great contempt, 
I, being fo mighty, fo rich, of fo high 
dignity — that is, exceeding all meafure in 
majefty, and infinite in goodnefs, and in- 
comprehenfible in them both — was content 
to ferve thee, fo bafe, and fo vile a creature, 
fcarce worthy the name of man — yea, and 
did it with fo great charity, fidelity and 
defire — there would, by the impreffion of 
thefe thoughts, be bred in thy heart fo 
great an obedience towards me, fo great a 



To the Faithful Soul. 109 

reverence of me, and fo great a defire to 
ferve and adore my Majefty, as can neither 
be expreffed in words nor conceived in 
thought. It would procure, moreover, in 
thee an infatiable defire and moft burning 
thirft to honour me, to worfhip me, to exalt 
me, and to contemn, humble and defpife 
thyfelf, and for the love of me to throw 
thyfelf under the feet of all my creatures, 
and, befides, patiently to endure reproaches, 
contempt, and injury, at all their hands. 

10. For though thou doft humble thyfelf 
never fo far, though thou beareft never fo 
much, yet thou fhouldft think that thou 
hadft endured nothing in refpe6l of the 
thirft and defire thou feeleft in thine own 
mind to abafe thyfelf, and exalt me ; info- 
much that thou fhouldft moft love thofe 
who did feek moft to opprefs and defpife 
thee, becaufe they did ferve in this behalf, 
to fatisfy thine earneft defire and thy 
humility, when they thought fo much to 
humble and abafe thee. If thou feeleft not, 
my Daughter, thefe things as yet in thyfelf, 
acknowledge how unthankful thou art, and 
how far from true humility, which is a 



no An Epijtle of Jefus Chrijl 

fincere and moft lowly fubmiffion of thy 
heart in the fight of my Divine Majefly. 
After which foUoweth ever a contempt of 
thine own felf ; and a will likewife not only 
to be defpifed of others, but even by them 
to be acknowledged moft vile. 

II. I exhort thee once again, my Daugh- 
ter, to look into my humility, and to take 
example by it, how thou fhouldft humble 
thyfelf. See how the world defpifed my 
life and doctrine, how they did falfely 
accufe and utterly reje6l me, how they back- 
bited me in all their fpeeches, how great 
reproaches, fcorns, contempts, and derifions 
I fuffered, even as a reprobate of moft vile 
perfons, and for moft vile and unthankful 
creatures. And being thus mocked and 
made moft abje6l as a fcorn of all men, yet 
I defpifed no man, neither did I excufe 
myfelf, nor any way fought in fpeech to 
refift or reprove them. Recount alfo with 
thyfelf, O unthankful creature, which art 
worthy to be defpifed, thine own obftinacy, 
negligence, fins, ingratitude, inconftancy, 
vilenefs ; and laftly, how thou art nothing 
of thyfelf, but by my grace only. Bewail, 



To the Faithful Soul, 1 1 1 

lament, and excufe thyfelf of all thefe 
before me with continual tears. Whatfoever 
ftiall happen unto thee, turn it to thine 
own benefit, and ufe it as a means to make 
thee humble. Take heed that thou takeft 
not pleafure in thyfelf, but rather wonder 
how thou canft pleafe or delight any other, 
if they did rightly know thee. Ever fix the 
eyes of thy heart upon the confideration of 
thine own weaknefs, and difability in all 
refpe<5ls. 

12, Confider how thou art nothing, and 
what thou oughteft to be and art not ; like- 
wife what thou haft not, and how unable 
thou art to do any good ; how many things 
thou wanteft ; and, to be fhort, how far thou 
art from true and perfeft charity, and from 
the perfeftion of a holy man's life. Call 
to mind alfo how unlike, and how little 
agreeable thou art unto me, and remember 
that merely thou haft no good thing at all 
of thyfelf, but receiveft all good things 
from me only, without any other means 
whatfoever. Moreover, make account that 
thou haft of thyfelf thefe things, and no 
other at all ; that is, an apt inclination to 



112 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

fin, to offend, to rebel, to ftand in need of 
all good things, to be in neceffity and mifery, 
and by thine own fault both to lofe, and 
overthrow all thofe bleffings and graces 
which I beftow upon thee. For it is moft 
certain, that if I fhould leave the nature of 
man to her own liberty, and to do that 
whereunto fhe is moft inclined, fhe would 
do no good at all, but decline every day 
from worfe to worfe, feeing fhe runneth 
fo vehemently headlong now to commit 
wickednefs ; notwithftanding that I do fo 
earneftly forbid her, and in a manner vio- 
lently withhold her. For the nature of man 
is nothing, and hath nothing of herfelf, and 
laboureth after that which is nothing. If 
thou didfb continually meditate upon this, 
it would help thee very much for procuring 
of humility. 

13. There muft be alfo, notwithftanding, 
joined unto this, another kind of humili- 
ation, for thy hidden and unknown imper- 
feftions, which for the moft part are very 
grievous, although thou being purblind 
doft not perceive them. Fall, therefore, 
proftrate for thefe before the feet of my 



To the Faithful Soul. 113 

mercy, and bewail from thy heart thy in- 
curable aptnefs and infirmity to commit fm, 
neither think ever otherwife of thyfelf than 
of one that is guilty of many faults, blind 
in many things, and moft unthankful of all 
creatures. 



Chap. XIX. 
How we Ought not to Care for Men's 
Judgments, 

|ROUBLE not thy mind with im- 
agining what men think of thee, 
nor what cenfure they give of 
thee, neither yet fear their judg- 
ment, fo long as thou doft not wittingly (as 
far as lieth in thy power) give them any 
fcandal or occafion juftly to reprehend or 
backbite thee. For thou art neither the 
better if they commend thee, nor the worfe 
if they difpraife thee. But thou art in truth 
as I account thee, and as thou fheweft to be 
in my fight. Therefore, let not the com- 
mendation of any other rejoice thee, nor 
yet their difpraifes grieve thee. For what 

I 




114 ^^ Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

doft thou gain by the commendation of 
others ? Nothing, truly ; but it doth rather 
many times greatly hurt thee, becaufe it 
deceiveth thee, and puffeth thee up with 
pride and vanity. And, on the contrary 
part, what can the contempt, reprehenfion, 
abafmg, backbiting, condemnation, and 
perfecution of men hurt thee ? Truly, no- 
thing at all ; but rather they profit thee 
much, for they bring thee to know thyfelf, 
and help thee not a little to obtain humility 
of life and amendment of thy manners. 
For by it thou fhalt be made more wary 
and wife in thy converfation with men, and 
not to truft in them, but to put all thy con- 
fidence in me. 

2. The judgment of men, therefore, is not 
much to be cared for, whether they fpeak 
good or evil of thee. Let them think what 
they will, in the meantime lift thou up thy 
heart unto me, and if by fearching every 
fecret corner of thy heart, thou findeft 
nothing in it that may offend me, fear 
nothing ; but if by this examination thou 
findeft fomewhat wherein thou haft offended 
me, bewail thy fault, not becaufe men do 



To the Faithful Soul. 1 1 5 

defpife thee, for thou oughteft then juftly 
both to fufifer and defire that, but becaufe 
thou haft ofifended me, and alfo given other 
men by thine example occafion to fin. 
But if anything be commended or difpraifed 
in thee which is not fin, be not otherwife, 
or more moved therewith, than if fome 
other man were commended or difpraifed. 

3. If men praife thee, afcribe it to their 
error and good-will towards thee; if they 
reprove thee, or condemn thee, marvel not 
at it. For what marvel is it, if men re- 
prove, defpife, and condemn thy life, feeing 
they alfo reproved my life, and condemn 
all my do6lrine, which was moft innocent, 
void of all fpot, and w^hich could by no 
means be juftly reprehended. Rejoice 
rather that thou art come to walk in thofe 
fteps which I had trodden before, that is, 
if being humbled and accounted as a caft- 
away of all men, and be glad that thou 
fuffereft thefe perfecutions of men. Let 
others imagine mifchief againft thee, I will 
turn their mifchiefs to thy benefit ; only 
endure thou all patiently, and be filent. 

4. Study in all things to pleafe me, and 



ii6 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

not men; and yet if thou chanceft to pleafe 
men, think that they are deceived in their 
opinion of thee, becaufe they know thee 
not as well as I do, but do judge thee 
through their own fimplicity, according to 
that appearance of goodnefs which they fee 
in thy outward fhow. But if thou doft dif- 
pleafe them, impute it to thine own deferts, 
and let it make thee more humble; for if 
they do defpife thee for fo little faults as 
they are able to fee in thee, what would they 
do if they faw as perfe6lly as I all thy fms 
and offences ? Delight, therefore, to be ac- 
counted vile and contemptible, and though 
thou be defpifed never fo much, yet think 
that thou deferveft to be a great deal more 
defpifed than thou art. 

5. Thou oughteft to account thyfelf mofl 
miferable, moft unworthy, moft unthankful, 
and moft needing of my grace and mercy, 
of all other creatures ; remembering always, 
that of thyfelf thou art merely nothing, and 
that all thy works which are without me 
neither favour anything of virtue nor yet 
are any thing worth. Whofoever is moft 
wicked, think him better and more worthy 



To the Faithful Soul. 117 

of heaven than thyfelf. Believe that other 
men do merit, and think that thou art tole- 
rated here by my mercy only. Prefume not, 
therefore, in thefe refpefts, to compare 
thyfelf with any man, but imagine that 
thou haft offended me more than all men, 
and that thou art more vile and unthankful 
to me than any creature that liveth ; be- 
caufe whatfoever is of thyfelf, either is 
nothing at all, or elfe is fin. Wherefore, to 
extol or magnify thyfelf, by the means 
of thofe gifts which thou haft wholly 
received from me, is intolerable, and a 
point of moft arrogant pride. For the pre- 
venting whereof, and for thy greater profit, 
I do often withdraw from thee my fenfible 
bleffings, becaufe thou knoweft not how to 
ufe them, but abufeft them, in turning them 
only to the magnifying of thyfelf, whereas 
in truth thou oughteft to challenge or 
afcribe nothing to thyfelf, but wholly attri- 
bute all unto me. 

6. Take heed, therefore, that in the peti- 
tions which thou makeft unto me thou haft 
no refpeft to thyfelf, but to me only, left 
thou fhew thyfelf unthankful towards me 



ii8 An Epijlle of Jefus Chriji 

by pride, or deteftable in my fight by thine 
own negligence. Remember how thou art 
nothing of thyfelf, how quickly thou art 
vanquifhed when I do not prote6l thee ; 
and confider how thou art not able to en- 
dure the fmallefh adverfity, or overcome 
the weakeft temptation, when I fight not 
for thee. For of thine own ability thou 
haft no other power in the world, but only 
to corrupt and pollute what good thing fo- 
ever I beftow upon thee. 

7. Thou art too apt, my Daughter, to dif- 
praife other men, which is a token, w^ithout 
doubt, of great arrogancy, as though thou 
wert worthy to be preferred before thofe 
which thou fo difcommendeft, becaufe thou 
perhaps wanteft that vice whereof thou 
accufefh them, and yet are subje6l to many 
others. If thou wert not blind, thou mighteft 
perceive that thou deferveft not by this 
kind of dealing, in any fort to be preferred 
before them ; but rather thine own tongue 
maketh thee more deteftable than they, 
becaufe it difcovereth openly thine arro- 
gancy or envy. My friends are wont to 
reproach and accufe themfelves of their 



To the Faithful Soul. 119 

own vices, and not to find fault with others ; 
for they fufpe6l both their works and them- 
felves, neither will they truft themfelves in 
any thing, becaufe they have been by that 
means fo often deceived. For they fear 
always that they feek not me with fuch fin- 
cerity as they ought. Befides, they wonder 
at and commend other men's works, for 
they will not be brought to fufpeft any evil 
of their neighbours. Therefore, do thou 
always either praife or excufe others, or 
elfe fay nothing at all, having ever before 
thine eyes only thine own vilenefs and 
unthankfulnefs, and wondering that all 
men do not reprove and deteft thee. 

8. Thou canft not, my Daughter, obtain 
humility, except thou love to be humbled, 
for it is of neceffity that a mind difpofed to 
be humbled muft ever go before humility. 
Receive, therefore, all things which I fend 
unto thee, as means to humble thee. De- 
light alfo to be humbled and contemned of 
others ; fuffer thy good name to be flan- 
dered ; hold thou thy peace, and refer thy 
caufe unto me ; I know better than thou 
doft how to defend thy good name. But 



I20 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

if thou fighteft for thyfelf, thou needefh not 
my proteftion. If thou doft with humihty 
and patience bear all, and be filent, I will 
choofe a time wherein I will anfwer for 
thee. Do not thou, by defending of thyfelf, 
prevent my gracious determination towards 
thee. I will fight for thee, and will have 
thee to be patient and filent. 



Chap. XX. 

Of Obedience. 

jBEDIENCE is a moft excellent 
virtue, and moft acceptable unto 
me ; that work which in itfelf is 
vileft, and leaft of all others, if it 
be done merely for obedience only, it is 
better accepted of me, and more profitable 
and meritorious unto him that doth it, 
than infinite others which men do volun- 
tary, and to pleafe their own appetite. 
Neither canft thou offer unto me, believe 
me, my Daughter, a more noble and worthy 
facrifice, than to prefent me with a humble 
heart, obedient and ready to do all things 




To the Faithful Soul. 121 

that I fhall command. For it may fo fall 
out, as a man by obedience only may clean 
leave and forfake himfelf for my fake, and 
fo profit more by denying of his own will, 
and be more inwardly united unto me, than 
if he had beftowed much time in other 
moft noble exercifes. 

2. Wherefore thou oughteft, my Daugh- 
ter, to be always as obedient unto me as 
if I were ever prefent with thee in a cor- 
poral form, and that thou didft as contin- 
ually enjoy my prefence as a wife doth her 
husband, with whom fhe dwelleth. When 
any man fhall call thee from me, to do 
fome aft of obedience, thou oughteft to 
leave me and obey him. For this is not a 
forfaking of me, but a forfaking of thyfelf ; 
becaufe thou preferreft my honour and my 
will before thine own convenience and con- 
folation, in that thou doft according to my 
commandments deny thyfelf, and feekeft 
not thine own convenience, but the benefit 
of others. In this fort fhouldft thou relin- 
quifh thyfelf, and all care to pleafe thyfelf, 
or to feek thine own convenience. For fo 
fhouldft thou not leave me, but find that 



122 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

which is a hundred times more worthy and 
profitable for thee than thofe things which 
thou forfakeft. 

3. Learn therefore to leave thyfelf for my 
fake, that is, by denying of thine own will, 
to want that fruit, that confolation, and 
that profit which thou defireft to reap ; for 
by doing thy duty in this fort, both thou 
honoureft me, and not only lofeft nothing 
in thy profit, but alfo obtaineft things, 
although it be by another means, that are 
a hundred times better. Wherefore efteem 
nothing fo precious, neither account thou 
anything fo profitable, as that thou wilt not 
be drawn from it willingly, for obedience' 
fake, with a mind wholly refigned to my 
pleafure. For whatfoever the thing be, that 
for the love of it, either thou refufeft to 
perform thine obedience, or comeft to do it 
grudgingly or unwillingly, it is the idol of 
thine own appetite : more pernicious to 
thee than can be expreffed. If thou be in 
a place where thou haft no fuperior, or 
where thyfelf is fuperior, make all men thy 
fuperiors, obeying their will, and forfaking 
thine own. Marry, do it not of flothfulnefs, 



To the Faithful Soul. 123 

but wherefoever thou mayeft even of thine 
own defire and of purpofe to renounce thy- 
felf for my fake. 

4. Love the virtue of obedience from the 
bottom of thy heart, and leave it not as 
long as thou liveft, not only to thy fuperiors, 
but alfo yield, obey, and fubje6l thyfelf, 
(whenfoever thou art not reftrained by my 
will) in all things, and to all men for my 
fake, and that without being grieved with it, 
repining at it, or difputing about it. And 
becaufe thou mayeft do this the more frankly, 
refpe6l not the man who by my ordinance 
is thy fuperior, whether he be learned or 
meet for the office ; neither feek to mark or 
confider whether he be learned or unlearned, 
an excellent man or a bafe perfon. But 
have regard to this only, that he is by my 
providence made thy fuperior, by whom I 
will govern thee, and in whom thou oughteft 
to hear me, afk counfel of me, and obey me. 

5. Therefore refift not, but yield to this 
my providence, feeing if I appoint fuch a 
man, I have as much care to rule thee, and 
to make thee fubjedl unto me by the means 
of fo fimple a perfon, as by him that is 



124 An Epijlle of J ejus Ckrijl 

learned. Yea, I have the like regard of 
thy well-doing, by any whomfoever it fhall 
be my pleafure to appoint over thee. Where- 
fore I would have thee fubje6l thyfelf unto 
him, without any fervile fear, or fcruple of 
thy confcience, and defpifmg thine own 
counfel and wifdom, fubmit thyfelf to be 
governed by his judgment and opinion. 
Whatfoever he fhall determine or appoint 
thee, accept it from his mouth as from mine 
own. For I place fuch fuperiors over my 
fervants fometimes, as have small learning, 
and are little praftifed in thofe exercifes, 
to the end that they fhould not regard 
man's wifdom, or refpe6l in the man him- 
felf ; but rather me in the man, that am 
their God, and as well able to anfwer them 
by a fimple man (if they can have faith 
and confidence in me) as by a learned. 

6. And therefore, whatfoever they fhall 
be anfwered, or howfoever they fhall be 
counfelled at his hand, let them receive it, 
not as from a man, but as from myfelf, 
attributing all to me and my direction, and 
afcribing nothing to the man, whether he 
be wife or fimple. If thou wouldft not, 



To the Faithful Soul. 125 

therefore, go aftray, walk in the path of 
obedience, and do nothing at all without 
the counfel of thy Paftor, or Ghoftly Father, 
or fuperior. Live always in fimplicity and 
poverty of fpirit, renouncing quite thine 
own judgment, thine own counfel, thine 
own fenfe, and thine own opinion ; neither 
take any occafion at any time to complain 
or murmur, efteeming that always beft 
which thy fuperior, or (if thou haft none) 
what other fhall think fitteft, as long as it 
is not manifeft and apparent fm. And, 
therefore, fully to mortify and kill in thy- 
felf thine own will, thou fhouldft not only 
be obedient unto men, but alfo fubje6l thy- 
felf unto all my creatures for my fake. 

7. For thou oughteft fo much to hate 
thine own will, and thou fhouldft fo much 
defire to extinguifti it, that thou ftiouldft live 
amongft men, wherefoever thou art, even 
as if thou wert clean without any will of 
thine own; that is, as if thou madeft no 
election or choice of any one thing more 
than another, but accepted of all things in- 
differently that chanced unto thee, ex- 
cepting this only, that another man's will 



126 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

(if thou knoweft it) muft ever pleafe thee 
better than thine own, fo that it be without 
fin, and that honefty and difcretion be ob- 
ferved in it. Yield, therefore, unto all 
men in thofe things which are thine ; that 
is, in thofe things which do properly and 
only belong unto thyfelf, in fuch fort, as if 
thou hadft profeffed obedience to them all. 
Nay, whenfoever thou fhalt be alone, do not 
thine own will, but difpofe of thyfelf fo as 
thy whole courfe of life, and all thy exer- 
cifes, may tend to the renouncing of thyfelf 
For this fhall be better and more profitable 
unto thee than the joys of Paradife. 

8. And whenfoever that my will fhall 
be made known unto thee, whether" it be 
by inward infpiration, or by the Scripture, 
or by thy fuperior, or by fome other 
creature of mine, or by any other means; 
whenfoever, alfo, that thou flialt be in- 
wardly admonifhed by me, ftraight defpife 
all that thou haft of thyfelf, as thine 
own counfel, thine own judgment, thine 
own appetite, thine own opinion, thine own 
liking, or thine own inclination, and follow 
my will. But thou muft have a fpecial 



To the Faithful Soul. 127 

care wifely to learn what my will is, left 
thou mayeft think that thou art governed 
by my fpirit, when in truth thou art di- 
re6led by thine own, or elfe by the fpirit 
of error or deceit. To avoid this, there- 
fore, do all things according to the counfel 
of thy fuperior, and fubmit thyfelf wholly 
to his will and direftion. 



Chap. XXL 
How we miiji Mortify oicr own Will 
a7td Dejire. 
lOTHING can do thee mifchief, O 
Daughter, but thine own wilL 
which, if thou haft once morti- 
fied, no other creature can hurt 
thee ; for what creature can hurt thee if thou 
art dead to thyfelf, and haft mortified thine 
own defire.^ That is, if thefe words, or 
rather the afifeftion of thefe words, be mor- 
tified in thee, to wit, I, and me, and to me, 
and mine, which is as much as to fay, as if 
there be no refpe6l in the world in thee, to 
pleafe thyfelf, or to ferve thine own appe- 
tite; who could hurt thee when I live in 




128 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrift 

thee, and thou in me, whom no creature 
can refill, but is enforced to ferve ? Marry, 
if thou wilt follow or retain ftill within thee 
thine own will, all things will refift thee, all 
things will fight againft thee, and in defpite 
of thy teeth, whether thou wilt or no, thou 
muft yield in the end, and canft no way 
efcape my providence, although it will be 
then as a crofs to torment thee, and not as 
a confolation to rejoice thee. 

2. But if thou renounceft quite thine own 
will, thou fhalt tafte an inward peace and 
joy, which that fenfual appetite of thine 
neither knoweth nor is able to conceive ; 
for nothing troubleth the world, but every- 
body feeking to pleafe their own appetite. 
Therefore I faid to my difciples : — In the 
world, that is, in thofe things which are of 
the world, to wit, your own defires, which 
the world feeketh to fatisfy, you fhall have 
diftrefs; but have confidence, for I have 
overcome the world, that both you may 
overcome in me, and have peace in me 
alfo. Begin, therefore, thou alfo, and tak- 
ing out this leffon, both mortify and pluck 
up by the very roots all the defires of the 



To the Faithful Soul, 129 

world and all felf-love out of thy heart, 
Otherwife, how canft thou overcome the 
world or the devil, if they have their army 
within thee ? — that is, if they have vices 
lodged within thy foul ? Throw out quickly 
whatfoever is in thee contrary to my will, 
and whatfoever fighteth againfb thee in thy 
fpiritual warfare. For neither the world nor 
the devil can ever come to vanquifh thee, 
or in a manner to refift thee, but by the help 
of thofe things which they poffefs in thee. 

3. Wherefore they which do perfecute 
thy vices, which do opprefs thee, which 
fhew unto thee, and lay before thine eyes, 
thine own weaknefs ; to be fhort, which of- 
fend thee, that is, v/hich offend thine own 
will in thee, and confequently thyfelf, be- 
caufe thine own will and felf-love reigneth 
in thee. (For otherwife they could not of- 
fend thee, for that thefe things, to wit, thy 
felf-will and thy felf-love, are only hurt 
and offended) ; they, therefore, as I faid, 
which do thus offend thine own will in thee, 
which fhew thee how thou haft not mor- 
tified thine own appetite, are thy fpecial 
friends and benefaftors. Thefe thou 

K 



130 An Epiftle of Jefus Chrijl 

oughteft to love, and withal to be glad, 
becaufe they do perfecute thine own appe- 
tite, which is thy worft adverfary, and only 
dangerous enemy. Therefore, if thou wilt 
wifely ufe and take the benefit of this occa- 
fion, the more that thine own will is re- 
preffed in thee, the ftronger thou ihalt grow, 
and the greater force thou fhalt have. 

4. The lefs rule that thine own appetite 
hath over thee, the more intereft have I 
ftill in thee, and the further that it is ban- 
ifhed from thee, the more fully do I pof- 
fefs thee ; becaufe following of thine own 
will, if it do thee no other hurt, yet it doth 
ever certainly bring this mifchief upon thee, 
that it fufifereth not me to have operation 
and poffeffion in thee. Wherefore it de- 
priveth thee of me, which am infinite good- 
nefs itfelf. For though thou labour never 
fo much, and devife never fo many means, 
thou fhalt never find any other way to 
come unto me than this, which I have 
taught my difciples, faying : — He that will 
come after me, let him deny himfelf, that 
is, let him leave, mortify, and quite forfake 
his own will, take up his crofs and follow 



To the Faithful Soul. 131 

me. Begin, therefore, with this, for this of 
neceffity thou mufl do ; whatfoever thou 
forfakeft, if thou forfakeft not thyfelf, thou 
haft forfaken nothing. And contrariwife, 
if thou poffeffefb not thyfelf, but leaveft 
thyfelf to be poffeffed by me, thou haft for- 
faken all things for my fake, although thou 
liveft in all abundance of wealth and hon- 
our. The more that thou goeft out of 
thyfelf, the farther do I enter into thee, 
and as much as thou doft die unto thyfelf, 
fo much do I live in thee. If thou difplea- 
feft thyfelf, I will be the fweeter unto thee. 
5. Forfake, therefore, all things, that thou 
mayeft find all things ; that is, forfake thy- 
felf, that thou mayeft find me. How long 
wilt thou ftay, my Daughter } How long wilt 
thou ftand ftill amazed } All thy diftrefs 
proceedeth only of that extreme felf-love 
which poffeffeth thy heart, and of the fmall 
confidence which thou haft in me. For- 
fake, therefore, thyfelf, and believe me. 
Doft thou think that I can deceive thee } 
Why doft thou not commit thyfelf to 
me } Why doft thou not truft in my good- 
nefs } What art thou able to profit thyfelf, 



132 An Epijlle of Jefiis Chrijl 

or what good canft thou do to thyfelf ? 
What art thou without me ? Art thou in 
any danger if, committing thyfelf to me, 
thou renounceft thine own will ? See to 
whom thou commit thyfelf ! To me, verily, 
without whom thou fhouldft have no being 
at all, or be anyways able to ftand, much 
lefs than to be fafe or well. Wilt thou, 
then, commit thyfelf unto me, with whom 
thou canft never be ill ? Wilt thou, then, 
commit thyfelf unto me, who cannot reje6l 
thee, who cannot forfake thee, who cannot 
deceive thee, who cannot but love thee? 
Throw thyfelf into my arms, I pray thee, 
and rely thyfelf wholly upon me, with con- 
fidence, and without delay I will receive 
thee, I will preferve thee. Without me 
thou art as though thou wert not at all ; 
therefore if thou loveft thyfelf, reje6l thy- 
felf and embrace me, that I may alfo em- 
brace thee, and unite thee fo clofe unto me, 
as no man fhall be able to hurt or touch 
thee, but that he muft firfb of neceffity hurt 
and touch me. 

6. Wherefore, leave thyfelf with a glad 
and willing mind, that thou mayeft neither 



To the Faithful SotiL 133 

feek, wifh, or choofe this or that, of any re- 
fpe6l, love, or inclination, which thou car- 
rieft to thyfelf, but let all things be indif- 
ferent to thee, only thou fhouldft for my 
fake efteem that deareft, and defire that 
moft, which thou knoweft is moft accept- 
able unto me. For thou oughteft to 
meditate of that prayer always in thy heart, 
which I offered unto my Father in the 
garden, when I was going to my paffion, 
faying : — O Lord, thy will be done. Like- 
wife, — Not mine, but thy will be done. 
And this alfo, — Teach me to do thy will, 
becaufe thou art my God. Or elfe this, — 
Let it be done unto me according to thy 
good pleafure. 

7. But wilt thou know how much thou 
hafb forfaken thyfelf, or how much thou 
haft mortified thine own will .'^ See, when 
lofs of anything, when reproaches, when 
injuries do happen unto thee, whether thou 
art troubled with them, and whether thou 
art more troubled when they happen to 
thee than when they happen to other 
men. By this thou fhalt find the love 
which thou beareft to creatures ; yea, thou 



134 ^^ Epijlle of Jefiis Chrijl 

fhalt perceive the affeflion which thou 
carrieft to thyfelf. For thou doirt:, there- 
fore, love temporal goods ; thou doft, 
therefore, love honour ; thou doft, there- 
fore, love quiet ; and thou doft, therefore, 
love fuch miferable and tranfitory things, 
becaufe thou loveft thyfelf. For thou wifh- 
eft to enjoy thefe things, whereas, if thou 
didft love me, thou fhouldft rather banifh 
all thefe things quite from thy heart for 
my fake, and take all adverfity as will- 
ingly as thou wouldft poffefs happinefs. 
To be fhort, thou fhouldft not be more, 
but rather much lefs, troubled when adver- 
fity happeneth to thyfelf than when it hap- 
peneth to others. For thou fhouldft never 
be grieved with any accident in this world, 
but only when thou fheweft thyfelf irreve- 
rent or contemptuous towards me. 

8. Therefore, he that will forfake him- 
felf, my Daughter, his only labour, exercife, 
and the whole fcope of his defire, muft tend 
not partly, but altogether, to mortify his 
own appetite, to renounce his own will, 
to be transformed into a new fhape, and to 
be in all fort free, and delivered from any 



To the Faithful Soul. 135 

impediment whatfoever which lyeth in the 
way, and maketh a divifion betwixt him 
and me. The leaft impediments are cogi- 
tations and forms of creatures which men 
frame in their mind ; the greateft is a man's 
own will, which the ftronger it is, and the 
larger place that it occupieth and poffeffeth 
in a man, the lefs I am prefent there, and 
fo confequently the lefs do I poffefs in his 
foul. As long, therefore, as thou findeft an 
inclination or natural defire to one thing 
more than another, thou art not yet per- 
feftly mortified, but thou haft fomewhat 
remaining in thee, which thou muft mortify 
and extinguifh. 

9. What motion foever thou feeleft in 
thyfelf, that proceedeth not from me ; 
what thing foever goeth about to bufy, 
alter, or poffefs thy mind ; what likenefs 
foever of anything doth labour to imprint 
itfelf within thy heart ; whatfoever feeketh 
to draw thy liking to it, or to grieve or 
ovenyhelm thee ; endeavour thou with a 
recollefled mind, clofe fhut within itfelf, 
and lifted up to me, lightly to pafs over, 
and careleffly to defpife all hope and fear, 



1^6 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrift 

gain and lofs, quiet and labour, joy and 
grief, mirth and fadnefs, and all fuch 
things as may feek to poffefs thy heart 
with all afifeftion that thou mayeft carry 
towards them. For if thou fix thy mind 
upon me, thou fhalt eafily tread all thefe 
things under thy feet. But if thou loveft 
thyfelf, if thou haft not wholly renounced 
thine own felf, thou fhalt always feel, by 
following of thine own appetite, joy and 
grief, anger and fear, care, and infinite 
other paffions. 

lo. Wherefore thou canft never be quiet, 
except thou haft clean mortified thyfelf, 
and forgotten thine own felf wholly. Thou 
mufl quite abandon thyfelf, that thou 
mayeft live in me only, and bend thyfelf 
to be wife in me only, and be fenfible to 
feel nothing but me only. Thou fhalt 
want nothing, if thou be content in this 
fort to want thyfelf Thou fhalt want 
nothing as long as thou art with me ; I 
will have care of thee, I will proteft thee ; 
thou canft lofe nothing in lofing of thyfelf 
after this fort, for thou fhalt find in me 
that which is a hundred times better than 



To the Faithftil Soul. 137 

the things which thou haft loft for my 
fake. 

II. Caft, therefore, all thy care, all thy 
trouble, all thy fear, and even thyfelf alfo 
upon me, and commit thyfelf to me. Hope 
and truft in me ; thy hope cannot deceive 
thee, neither can it poffibly be too great, 
if thou leadeft a good and penitent life. 
Whatfoever thou wouldft complain of to 
a man that is thy friend, reveal the fame 
unto me. I will take care of thee, I will 
maintain thee, I will defend thee. Where- 
fore fee that thou regard me only, being 
quite banifhed from thyfelf within thee ; 
that thou mayeft mortify and extinguifh 
thyfelf, that is, by rooting out thy defires, 
thy felf-love, thy fenfual appetites, and 
by renouncing all thofe delights of thine, 
which thou didft defire before, and for 
which unlawful defires I was not thy GOD, 
nor thou my fervant. O, my Daughter, 
thou oughteft to labour with all thy force, 
that thou mayeft attain to this obedience, 
this forfaking of thine own will for my 
fake, and thou oughteft to refign thyfelf 
fo wholly unto me, and fo far to fubjeft 




i^S An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

thyfelf to my will, as thou fhouldft have 
no other {vill at all in thyfelf, but only 
that which is my will and pleafure. 



Chap. XXII. 
Of the Conjideration of God's Providence, 
IS long as there remaineth any 



choice, election, or inclination in 
thee, that moveth thee to take 
more pleafure, to be better 
contented, and to receive greater confola- 
tion by one thing than by another, there 
refteth fomething of thine own in thee, 
and thou haft not yet fully renounced 
thyfelf. For thou oughteft to take all 
things indifferently and equally, without 
either more joy or more grief at one time 
than another, and only to depend and rely 
upon my providence. For this courfe 
would procure thee the greatefb liberty, 
the greateft peace, and the greateft quiet- 
nefs to thy foul. 

2. Stand not, therefore, upon thyfelf, be- 
lieve not thine own wit or thine own force, 
truft not in thine own ability, promife 



To the Faithful Soul. 139 

thyfelf nothing upon thine own warrant, 
build nothing upon thine own imagina- 
tion, and do nothing of thine own head ; 
neither have confidence in thine own pro- 
fiting, or in thine own will, although it 
be indeed good. But forfaking in all forts 
thine own felf, go out of thyfelf, and re- 
nouncing quite all the property which thou 
haft in thyfelf, reft and repofe thyfelf in 
me only, truft in my goodnefs, rely upon 
my grace, and upon my providence. Be 
ready at all times without any choice, 
without any difference and without any 
murmuring in thy heart, to receive for 
the fulfilling of my pleafure, adverfity as 
willingly as profperity, both temporally 
and eternally, defiring always this only 
thing, that thou mayeft ever be in all re- 
fpe6ls according to my will. 

3. And, therefore, regard not how much 
or how little thou profiteft, how near or 
how far thou art from me, how great or 
how fmall gifts thou haft of me ; nor yet, 
whether thou fhalt be in Purgatory or no, 
how long or when thou fhalt fufifer thofe 
pains, but refer thyfelf wholly to my pro- 



140 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

vidence, and defire nothing but that thou 
mayeft ever be found beft contented with 
that which agreeth moft with my pleafure, 
and wifh not for any greater good, neither 
think that greater can poffibly happen unto 
thee, than that my firft, laft, and moft 
laudable will be fulfilled in thee. Where- 
fore feek to pleafe me in all fuch fort as is 
moft agreeable to my will ; let my will be 
both thy perfeftion and the meafure of 
thy perfeftion. 

4. Trouble not thy heart with any quef- 
tion or imagination of future things ; take 
no care for thofe things that are uncertain, 
and may happen, but leave all thefe things 
to me, who governeth all, for it may fo 
fall out, as that evil which is expe6led 
or feared may not happen ; or if it do 
happen, when it is prefent, fufficient for 
the day is the evil thereof For howfo- 
ever, and whatfoever doth by my per- 
miffion chance unto thee, my providence 
ought to pleafe thee above all things, and 
thou oughteft to praife me for it, and to 
hold this as an undoubted truth, that that 
is ever beft for thee which doth fo happen 



To the Faithful SotcL 141 

unto thee, and that it was forefeen and 
appointed by my gracious hand, to fall 
upon thee for thy commodity ; as thou 
doft with a full confidence wholly depend 
upon my goodnefs. To conceive well of 
me, to truft firmly in me, to commit them- 
felves altogether unto me, thefe things, I 
fay, are, as it were, trumpets, whereby men 
do found out my goodnefs. And, there- 
fore, when I find thefe things in any man, 
they pleafe me fo much, as I can never 
forfake him, nor fufifer any evil or dan- 
gerous thing to happen unto him, who hath 
thus fettled his hope in me. 

5. The greater hope and truft, therefore, 
that thou haft in me, the more fully and 
perfe6lly thou fhalt obtain thy defire. And 
whatfoever fhall happen unto thee, if thou 
believeft that I am fo good and gracious 
as I will turn all thy adverfities, and all 
things that perfecute thee, or are thine 
enemies, to thy good, that is, to thy benefit, 
I will not deceive thee, but do it indeed. 
And if, at the leaft, thou canft but frame 
thyfelf to accept all things in this fort, 
it fhall fo come to pafs out of all doubt, 



142 An Epijlle of ye/us Chrijl 

as I have faid. Yet my devout friends 
are wont to pray that I may dehver them 
from Purgatory, and it is no ill petition. 

6. But when thou art come to perfeftion, 
and prayeft, lying profhrate at the feet of 
my Majefty, thou fhalt defire to fatisfy 
my juftice with that fmall ability which 
refteth in thee, and fhalt offer thyfelf for 
my glory unto Purgatory, and to fuffer for 
the fulfilling of my will, whatfoever it 
fhall be my will to lay upon thee, and the 
fulfilling of my will fhall pleafe thee more 
than the efcaping of Purgatory. There- 
fore, if thou fhalt overcome by my grace 
that inordinate love and zeal which thou 
carrieft toward thyfelf, and for thyfelf, to 
pleafe thy fenfes and thine own will, and 
perfe6lly with a full confidence wouldft 
commit thyfelf unto me, and rely upon me 
only, thou fhouldft find that my grace 
would work wonders in thee. Study, there- 
fore, to pleafe me, my Daughter, and with 
thinking of me clean forget thyfelf, and I 
will fo continually think of thee, and be 
always fuch an affiftant unto thee as I will 
never forfake thee. 



To the Faithful Soul. 143 

7. Once again I fay unto thee, accept all 
things which happen unto thee, as fent 
purely, fimply, and immediately from my 
hand, and not from any creature, admiring, 
praifmg, and accepting in all things of my 
providence, with joy and gladnefs, and with 
love and thankfgiving to me for my good- 
nefs. For in all thofe things which happen 
unto thee, I do intend and work thy falva- 
tion ; and with a fmgular affe6lion, being 
mindful of thee, I fend and appoint thefe 
things for thee, to the end that thou mayeft 
either do or fufifer fuch things as may move 
me to have mercy upon thee. 

8. Endeavour thou, therefore, to draw 
out of all things which thou feeft and 
feeleft, and out of all things which do 
happen unto thee, an occafion to praife and 
honour me, that thou mayeft be worthy to 
underftand the true caufe why I permitted 
them, that is, with how great charity I fent 
them unto thee, and how thou oughtefb to 
refer all thefe things unto my pleafure, to 
truft in me, and withal to offer thyfelf for 
my glory, even unto the fountain from 
whence they flowed, that is, unto my good- 



144 ^^^ Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

nefs. If thou wert perfectly acquainted 
with this exjercife, whereby thou fhouldft 
as willingly accept forrow as comfort at 
my hand, and fhouldft alfo know how to 
find me in every one of my creatures, no- 
thing could then feem fo contrary and 
overthwart unto thee, that thou wouldft 
not contemn and defpife ; yea, nothing 
could be fo contrary unto my nature and 
Majefty, but that it would put thee in mind 
to offer facrifice unto me, for I am in every 
creature, and without me no creature can 
have any being. 

9. Wherefore no creature is fo near to 
himfelf as I, who am moft near, and in- 
ward with them all. Wherefore thou 
oughteft to be fo poor in fpirit, as there 
fhould be nothing that thou didft either 
love or miflike, feek or fly, fear or defire, 
for any refpefl to thyfelf ; but only for the 
fulfilling of my will, which at all times, and 
in all places, thou fhalt come wonderfully to 
underftand, by thofe things which I ordain 
and permit, if thou feekeft me with a pure 
mind, and haft regard to confider of my 
providence. 




To the Faithful Soul. 145 



Chap. XXIII. 

How we muji bear Adverjity. 

|ECEIVE all adverfity and tribu- 
lation as a meffenger and token 
of my grace, which approacheth 
towards thee. And, therefore, 
whenfoever thou findeft thyfelf oppreffed 
with any trouble or adverfity, rejoice, 
knowing that thou haft deferved it, and 
impute not that which thou fuffereft to any- 
body, but to thine own fms ; and withal 
give me thanks that, looking upon thee 
with the eyes of my mercy, I have vouch- 
fafed to beftow fo much favour on thee, as 
to vifit, prove, and corre6l thee here with a 
rod like my child, and have not utterly re- 
je6led thee, as thou didft deferve. For as 
long as I chaften thee, as long as I fcourge 
thee, it is a fign that I defire thou fhouldft 
amend. But if I withdraw my corre6lion, 
leaving thee wholly to thyfelf, thou fhalt 
feem then to have reft and be quiet, but 
thou art moft unhappy, when I have with- 

L 



146 A?i Epijlle of Jefus Chriji 

drawn from thee that care and regard 
which I had of thee, and that thou art no 
longer in my cuftody. 

2. Whatfoever, therefore, that thou fuf- 
fereft, fay unto thyfelf, I have deferved more 
grievous punifhment ; but although thou 
hadft deferved none, yet thou fhouldft 
bear all thofe adverfities which I lay upon 
thee, for the love of me, and for my fake, left 
that otherwife my good pleafure fhould not 
be fulfilled, even gladly with a moft patient 
and loving mind towards me, confidering 
that I fuffered fo many grievous torments 
for thy falvation. And yet although I had 
fuffered nothing, do not I deferve that thou 
fhouldft fuffer fomewhat for my fake, in 
refpe6l of thofe infinite benefits which I 
daily pour upon thee, feeing all that thou 
haft, thou receiveft from me only? 

3. Laftly, fuppofe that there were none 
of thefe reafons to move thee, yet oughteft 
thou to remember that thou art mine, 
created and made by me, and no lefs in 
my power, to be framed every way accord- 
ing to my will, than earth is when it is in 
the hand of the potter. And that it is, 



To the Faithful SouL 147 

therefore, in my power, and a part of my 
juftice, to do with thee whatfoever I will, and 
it is no more lawful for thee to gainfay me, 
than for the earth to gainfay the potter. 
For what haft thou to fay againft me, who 
am thy Creator, whether I fend thee comfort 
or forrow? But knowing that thou haft 
committed fo much wickednefs as thou 
haft done, why doft thou not rather defire 
that the contempt wherewith thou haft 
defpifed m.y goodnefs fhould be punifhed 
in thee, and thy proud and arrogant mind 
humbled ? 

4. But there is, the rather, yet another 
reafon to move thee hereunto ; that is, be- 
caufe I am one which do love thee moft 
faithfully, and do provide all things that are 
beft and moft wholefome for thee. And fee- 
ing it was my will before I created thee, that 
thou fhouldft fufifer at this hour, and at 
this moment, thofe fame things which thou 
doft fuffer, thou oughteft to defire above all 
things that this, my moft loving will, being 
full of all fidelity and charity towards thee, 
may be fulfilled in thee, fo as thou fhouldft 
endure all thofe things which thou doft 



148 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

fuffer, with gladnefs, with a fweet kind of 
patience, with thankfgiving, with meeknefs, 
and with devotion in thy heart, having no 
wrath nor bitter thought againft thofe who 
feek to lay thofe adverfities and vexations 
upon thee ; but rather thou Ihouldft take 
them as my minifters in this behalf, ap- 
pointed and commanded by me to this 
purpofe, and thou fhouldfh confider, having 
thine eyes fixed upon me only, with how 
loving, how kind, and how faithful a heart 
towards thee, I have fent thee thefe troubles 
for thy benefit. 

5. Receive, therefore, all afHi6lion, what- 
foever falleth upon thee, as fent from 
my hand only, without any other means ; 
and take it as fent by me of love towards 
thee for thy commodity ; accept it as 
gladly as I do fend it lovingly. And 
when thou fuffereft no adverfity, think that 
my goodwill is alienated from thee, and 
that I am offended with thee, becaufe I 
withdraw affli6lions and tribulations from 
thee, which is the nobleft gift and ornament 
wherewith I am wont to honour and 
beautify my friends. 



To the Faithful Soul, 149 

6. Recount with thyfelf how great vexa- 
tions, how great perfecutions, how great 
contradictions, how great torments, how 
great and wearifome toils I fuffered ; how 
great my moft dear Mother endured ; and 
to be fhort, how great all my friends walk- 
ing in my fteps have fuftained. Remem- 
ber alfo that no man attaineth to eternal 
glory but by the Crofs and cup of affli6lion, 
and that there is no other way but this 
highway to the heavenly country, which 
way of neceffity thou muft pafs through, if 
thou defireft to enjoy our company in eter- 
nal happinefs. Laftly, confider that there 
is nothing fo fmall or fo little worth, which 
either thou doeft or fufifereft for my fake, 
but that thou fhalt receive a very great and 
glorious reward of me for it. And yet, 
notwithftanding, I will not have thee to 
ferve me, or to fuffer thefe things, in hope 
of reward, but only of mere love towards 
me. I know what reward I will give thee. 
I fay I will, becaufe I do not owe it thee 
in any other fort, than for that it is my 
will to beftow it upon thee. For all my 
gifts are of free grace. 



150 An Epijlle of Jefus ChHJl 

7. Think not thou, therefore, of any re- 
ward, be not fo bafe-minded, but think of 
me with a more noble, loving, and faithful 
heart, and fubmit thyfelf unto me, even of 
mere love for mine own fake, to endure 
whatfoever my will is to lay upon thee. If 
thou knoweft, my Daughter, what great 
fruit is reaped by tribulations, thou wouldft 
efteem it as a great happinefs to glory 
in croffes and afifliftions. The greater ad- 
verfities, therefore, that do happen unto 
thee, and the more contrary that they are 
to thy defires, yea, although they repugn 
fuch defires of thine as are to pleafe me, 
the more earneftly thou fhouldft endeavour 
patiently to fuffer them, and the more 
wholly thou fhouldft refign thyfelf unto me. 
For it is done by my will and providence, 
that thy will fometimes be hindered ; yea, 
even when it is good, that by this means, 
for one virtue thou mayeft obtain two, and 
withal mayeft receive the reward of a good 
work for thy good will (although thou be 
not permitted to put it in execution) and 
for the adverfity which did hinder thy will 
thou fhalt receive a crown of patience. 



To the Faithful Soul. 151 

8. Thou mayeft add to all thefe, for thy 
further encouragement, this one reafon 
alfo ; that the more thy good will is 
tempted by adverfity, and the more faith- 
ful it is found, and the more patient it is in 
bearing of croffes, and fuch things as refift 
it, the more glorious the crown is which I 
have laid up to reward it. Therefore, be- 
caufe I love thee, I will have thee to be 
wholly and purely a faithful Spoufe unto 
me. I will have thee to ferve me with re- 
nouncing all intereft in thyfelf, and to go, 
not whither thou wilt, but whither I fend 
or lead thee. Neither muft thou feek 
withal to ferve thine own appetite, when 
thou laboureft in thefe things to pleafe 
me; but rather as a faithful, devout, and 
obedient handmaid, which hath no will to 
do anything but that which is agreeable 
to the will of her mifhrefs. Thou mufl 
feek in nothing to pleafe thyfelf, but me 
only, with all fmcerity and purity in thy 
intention, and that muft be always moft 
acceptable unto thee which I lay upon 
thee to fuffer, whether it be by the hands 
of men, or any other means whatfoever. 



152 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

9. Refpe6l not, therefore, men ; neither 
impute it to men, if thou fuftaineft any ad- 
verfity. What blame doth the rod deferve 
if the father, feeking to corre6l his fon, doth 
ufe it ? Why then art thou angry with men, 
which, being my inftruments, ferve as a 
fcourge to correfl thee ? Seek not, there- 
fore, to refift them, or to argue againft 
them, but have a fpecial care that thine 
own impatience do not hurt thyfelf, and 
left thou lofe that benefit by repining, 
which thou Ihouldft have gained by pa- 
tient fuffering. Be, therefore, courteous 
and gentle towards all men, in taking pa- 
tiently whatfoever fhall happen. Carry a 
mild countenance, and ufe a humble be- 
haviour, that no anger, nor exclaiming, no 
deje6lion of thy mind, nor forrow appear 
in thee, nor yet that anything may be 
found in thee which may make men to 
think that thou endureft fome afflidlion, 
or art oppreffed with fome trouble. 

10. If any man reprove or reproach thee, 
fhew him a mild and gentle countenance, 
holding thy peace, and fmile with a certain 
kind of bafhfulnefs and modefty, in token 



To the Faithful Soul. 153 

of thy charity, which accepteth it in good 
part, and which taketh all things well, 
without either thinking of revenge, or re- 
membering of an injury. Beware that thou 
fpeakeft not at that time above two or 
three words, and that with great temper- 
ance. And by this means thou fhalt fhew 
thyfelf fo humble and meek, as every man 
may prefume to reprove thee, and no man 
be afraid to difpleafe thee, or to ufe any 
reproach towards thee. Learn in all ad- 
verfity, whenfoever any man doth chide 
thee, reproach thee, or injure thee, to ufe 
filence, to bear it patiently, and to be quiet, 
and thou fhalt affuredly find my grace, 
which thou canft never attain unto by any 
other means, than by being quiet, and fuf- 
fering patiently whatfoever I fhall lay upon 
thee, being as willing, if it ftand with my 
pleafure, to receive adverfity as to enjoy 
profperity. 

II. Thou haft, my Daughter and Spoufe, 
my life as a perfe6l example of patience 
and meeknefs ; neither did I fpeak it with- 
out great reafon, when I faid. Learn of me 
becaufe I am meek and humble of heart, 



154 -^^ Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

feeing that my life was a lively pattern of 
patience, humility, and meeknefs. For in 
the middle of all my pains and torments, of 
all the derifions and blafphemies, which 
mine enemies ufed towards me, of all their 
cruel threatenings, of their moft wicked and 
defpiteful countenances againft me, what 
complaint or fhow of repining at this deal- 
ing of theirs proceeded from me ? Which 
of my enemies did I curfe ? To which of 
them did I fpeak fharply ? Which of them 
did I anfwer ? To which of them did I wifh 
any harm ? Nay, rather, was I not forry 
for them, when I did pray for them all ? 
Follow thou, therefore, my example, and 
have patience ftill joined with quietnefs and 
tranquillity of thy foul, and be meek with- 
out murmuring or complaining. Fight not 
for thyfelf ; anfwer not for thyfelf ; depend 
not, neither yet excufe thou thyfelf ; hold 
thou thy peace, and commit both thyfelf 
and thy caufe to my proteftion; I will 
fight for thee. 

12. Cleave, therefore, in the meantime 
wholly unto me, in all quietnefs, without 
any perturbation or motion in thy foul, 



To the Faithful Soul. 155 

being ready, with all gladnefs, rather to 
fuffer any confufton for my fake than either 
inwardly in thy mind, or outwardly in thy 
fhow, to ufe the leaft murmuring in the 
world againft me. As long as thou thinkeft 
that thou art wronged ; as long as thou 
believeft, my Daughter, that thou fuffereft 
unjuftly, or haft not deferved thofe things 
which thou fuffereft, thou art neither come 
to true patience, nor yet to a perfect know- 
ledge of thyfelf. 

13. Wherefore, I would wifh thee to be 
always ready with a joyful and devout 
heart to run and meet any adverfity that 
fhall light upon thee ; and offer thyfelf 
unto me, as one that is willing to fuffer 
tribulations, to want all things that thou 
defireft, and both to take and travail, and 
to bear any mifery in what fort foever it 
fhall be my pleafure to appoint. Think 
that day loft wherein thou haft not received 
fome notable crofs. If thou kneweft what 
great commodity is reaped by patience, 
thou wouldft do great honour, and fhew 
great thankfulnefs to thofe that affli6l thee. 
Confider how I, as an innocent Lamb, did 



156 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

carry a mofl meek and quiet mind, void of 
all bitternefs towards thofe which did fpit 
upon me, fcourge me, and crucify me, 
and how I excufed them, and prayed for 
them. In like fort muft thou do, and not 
count anything injury that is done unto 
thee; nor yet believe that injuries can be 
offered thee, but regard me only, refpe6l 
me wholly, and thou fhalt come to learn 
that I, and no other, have done all thefe 
things merely of love towards thee. 

14. By doing thus, my Daughter, there 
is nothing in any creature which will not 
be a means and an occafion for thee to 
obtain my grace more abundantly, becaufe 
thou fhalt find me in every one of them ; 
fo that thou doft contemplate upon the 
creature, not as a creature, but upon me 
in the creature, as thou oughteft to do. 
And if thou doft in this behalf as thou 
oughteft, thou fhalt receive me, thou fhalt 
hear me, thou fhalt feel me in every one 
of my creatures ; for I do fpeak unto thee 
in them all. Hearken, therefore, unto me 
and learn by everything that happeneth 
unto thee what I would have thee do, and 



To the Faithful Soul, 157 

when thou knoweft my will, be ever moft 
ready to perform it. If thou didft give 
care unto me after this manner, the world, 
and all things contained therein, fhould be 
a book of inftru6lions for thee to direft 
thee in that courfe which agreeth moft 
with my pleafure. 



Chap. XXIV. 

Of Wanting of Confolation, 

HE highway, and alfo that moft 

excellent way, wherein all my 

^ perfe6l friends have walked, and 

wherein thou muft alfo walk, 

is, to want all kind of confolation, when 
thou art compaffed in on every fide with 
adverfity and diftrefs, and to be fo poor, 
as there may be nothing left to which 
thou mayeft turn thyfelf for fuccour, to 
which thou mayeft fly unto for refuge, 
or in which thou mayeft truft ; nor yet, that 
there be any man whom thou mayeft feek 
counfel of, or in whom thou mayeft have 
confidence but in me only, that by this 
means thou mayeft have no other thing to 



158 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

remain for thee to do, but only that all 
thy care and cogitations may tend to devife 
how thou mayeft profit and fet forth my 
glory, in fuftaining of thefe affliftions, 
both inwardly in thy mind, by having a 
defire to offer thyfelf unto them, and out- 
wardly in thy behaviour, by ferving of all 
creatures, and fubjefting thyfelf unto them 
all, in fuch fort as if it were lawful for them, 
without committing any offence or doing 
thee any injury, to afflift thee, and tread 
thee under their feet ; yea, as if they did 
in this no more than I charged and com- 
manded them. 

2. In doing thus, thou fhouldft be free 
from all complaining, from all difputing, 
from all grudging, and from all malice 
againft thy neighbour. And by this 
account thou fhouldft love thofe beft which 
did opprefs thee moft. Becaufe they did 
open the way unto thee, whereby thou 
mayeft come to renounce thyfelf, and gave 
thee an opportunity both to pleafe me, and 
fhew thyfelf thankful towards me. More- 
over, thou fhouldft rejoice that they offered 
thee a good occafion to exercife virtue, 



To the Faithful Soul. 159 

and to try thy love towards me ; and thou 
wouldft defire this above all things, if thou 
didft indeed perfeftly love me. 

3. There is yet another perfeftion greater 
than this, and in a higher degree, that is, 
to be deftitute both of all earthly and 
heavenly confolation, being loaded with 
temptations, diftreffes, vexations, doubts, 
fears, perplexities, and adverfities, and to 
be, as it were, utterly rejefted from me 
and quite forgotten by me, and yet not- 
withftanding all this, not to fly from me 
and go to my creatures, nor to depart 
from me and feek worldly help, nor yet 
to defire that confolations and revelations 
fhould be imparted unto them. But ftill 
to trufl in me, to expe6l patiently my 
pleafure, to cleave unto me with a pure 
faith and perfe6l charity, and to be ready 
to continue in this flate as long as it fhall 
be my will to permit it. Nay, which is 
more, to refer themfelves wholly unto me, 
and to offer themfelves to fufferboth thefe, 
and by any other thing whatfoever, for the 
fulfilling of my will, and fetting forth of 
my glory, and to praife me in all thefe 




i6o An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

diftreffes, in fuch fort as they are able, 
although it be but with a dry and barren 
heart. 



Chap. XXV. 

Of Inward Peace and Meeknefs of Heart, 

|HOU haft underftood fufficiently^ 
my Spoufe, how thou oughteft 
to be patient, and in patience 
meek ; that is, how thou oughteft 
to bear all things with fo indifferent, peace- 
able, and quiet a mind (for meeknefs is no 
other thing than perfe6l tranquillity in 
true patience), as nothing ftiould be able 
to make thee fad, or to vex or trouble 
thee, whatfoever did happen unto thee, 
that proceeded not from me in my wrath 
and difpleafure, whether it were for a time 
or for eternity, excepting this only, which 
thou muft always carry for a firm refolu- 
tion, that thou wilt never be excluded 
from my grace and charity, nor yet in 
thine own will be withdrawn or divided 
from me. For this thou muft not negleft, 



To the Faithful Soul. i6i 

but take care of above all things, that thou 
mayeft always be united unto me in perfe6l 
charity. 

2. Thou muft alfo remember, in what 
place foever thou art, what pain or confo- 
lation foever thou feeleft (if the fame be 
for the fetting forth of my glory, and by 
my fpecial pleafure) that thou rejoice in 
it, becaufe by it thou obeyefb my will, 
being ready in every fort to be according 
as it fhall beft agree with my will, either 
comforted or afflicted. And when thou 
art fettled in this refolution, no lofs of any 
external thing that happeneth unto thee 
in this world can grieve thee. For nothing 
can chance that is contrary to thy liking, 
as long as my will is always thy will, and 
that thou haft no other will in thee but 
that which is my pleafure. Therefore 
then, as I faid, let my will be always 
fulfilled in all things. And it fhould be 
the greateft joy that thou couldft have, 
when my will is performed in thee. For 
thou art then fully fettled in thine inward 
man, in all peace and tranquillity, although 
thou findeft in thine own outward man, 

M 



1 62 An Epiftle of J ejus Chriji 

diftrefs and defolation, which notwith- 
ftanding thou doft patiently take without 
any perturbation, becaufe thy will is in all 
things agreeable to mine. 

3. Be quiet in this manner, my Daughter, 
providing fo as all fury, and all kind of re- 
pining be altogether extinguifhed in thee, 
and that thine irafcible power or faculty be 
even fo fully mortified in thee, as it be im- 
movable, and not to be ftirred by any acci- 
dent Let thy concupifcible power alfo be 
fo eftablifhed in virtue, as it may be wholly 
lifted up unto me. And let thy reafonable 
power, taking part of their joys, accord with 
them, fo as thy confcience, enjoying peace 
and quietnefs within itfelf, thy whole foul 
may be in perfe6l tranquillity. 




To the Faithful SouL 163 



Chap. XXVI. 

Of the Love which we Jhould bear towards 

our Neighbour, 

|ET thy heart towards thy neigh- 
bour, my Daughter, be full of 
compaffion, and a chafte kind 
of love. I call that a chafte 
love which defileth not the heart with 
concupifcence, nor doth bufy it with too 
much familiarity, or too often keeping of 
company, nor doth ftain it with any inor- 
dinate affeftion, nor doth difquiet it with 
thoughts that procure diftraftion in thy 
foul, nor doth trouble it with importunity 
of vain defires, nor doth occupy thy 
imagination with multitude of fancies, or 
impreffions of divers things ; but without 
choice of perfons, or regard of fex, doth 
embrace all forts of men and women for 
my fake, with abundance of charity, and 
for it only, without any other refpeft at all. 
2. Therefore, being full of a devout kind 
of goodwill and pure charity, rejoice with 



164 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

every one in all the benefits and commodi- 
ties which they receive, whether it be 
touching their foul or body, and ever flow- 
ing with a kind of compaffion, which can 
never ceafe running. Lament with every 
one in their neceffities and tribulations, 
pouring out the ftreams of thy courtefy, 
affability, mercy, and pity to all men. And 
fee that thou art inflamed with a ready de- 
fire and willing mind to comfort them, to 
ferve them, to fuccour them, and to help 
them to bear the burden of their troubles, 
efteeming their corporal or fpiritual afflic- 
tions thine own, and carrying the unfpeak- 
able affeflion of a moft tender mother to- 
wards all men whatfoever. Endeavour, 
therefore, to excufe every man, and to do 
them good by thy prayers, benefits, and all 
the pleafures that lieth in thy power. And 
upon fuch as thou canfb beftow no other 
benefit, feek to mitigate their forrow with 
thy courteous behaviour, thy fweet fpeech, 
or any other means that thou art able. 

3. Take fpecial heed that thou neither 
judgeft nor defpifeft any man, becaufe it 
both harmeth thy foul and, befides, dif- 



To the Faithful Soul. 165 

pleafeth me wonderfully. And therefore 
exclude, by all the means thou mayeft, 
fufpicions, and ill-conceits of other men, 
from thee; excufe alfo all thofe who fall 
and offend. When thou feeft one to fm, fay 
within thyfelf that he was permitted to fall 
for his greater amendment ; that he had 
a good intention, and was deceived either 
by ignorance or error; that his infirmity 
being too ftrongly affaulted with tempta- 
tion, was enforced to yield. Say and fpeak 
it unfeignedly from thy heart, that thou 
hadft fallen much more heinoufly than he 
did if this temptation had affaulted thee. 
Thou oughteft not with one and the felf- 
fame but with other eyes to look upon 
thine own and thy neighbour s a6ls. For 
thou fhouldft judge of thine own with a 
fevere eye, aggravating thine imperfe6lions, 
and not efteeming or feeking to leffen thy 
virtues. 

4. And on the contrary part, thou 
fhouldft make reckoning of thy neigh- 
bour's imperfeftions as very fmall, and of 
his virtues as very great. Wherefore take 
care always neither to fpeak nor hear ill of 



1 66 An Epifile of J ejus Chriji 

others. Never reprove thy neighbour in 
anger, though he deferve to be blamed. For 
what doth it profit thee if thou cureft him, 
and woundeft thyfelf .^ Or what doth the me- 
dicine avail, if by it thou goeft about to heal 
one wound, and in the meantime makefb ten 
others } Expe6l thou a time wherein thou 
mayeft have fit opportunity to reprove him, 
and then reprove him with the fpirit of 
lenity and fweetnefs, rather by entreating 
him, and exhorting him, than by handling 
him fharply or roughly, making thy hearty 
prayers unto me, with forrowful groans, 
that this reproving of thine may be effec- 
tual, and work his falvation. 

5. Take heed that thou art not the caufe 
of breeding diffenfion, difcord, or hatred 
amongft men, but let all thy fpeech in all 
places tend to peace, being mindful that I 
faid : "Bleffed are the peace-makers, for 
they fhall be called the children of God." 
If any man offend thee, if any man perfe- 
cute thee with malice, requite his wrongs 
with benefits, his hard and four counten- 
ance with a fweet and meek behaviour, his 
fharp and reproachful words with mild and 



To the Faithful Soul. 167 

gentle anfwers, and by this means thou 
fhalt more eafily bring him to the know- 
ledge of his own fault 

6. Let all the labours, miferies, poverty, 
contempt, and forrows, which thou feeft men 
endure, put thee in mind of thofe labours, 
affli6lions,contemxpts, pains, and many other 
fharp and grievous miferies, which I fuf- 
fered for thy fake, that thou mayeft by this 
means behold me, find me, perceive me, 
perfeftly love me, daily fuffer with me, and 
continually be transformed into me, by 
every thing which thou feeft in every man. 



Chap. XXVIL 

Of the Purity of the Heart. 

jNDEAVOUR to have fuch purity 
in thy heart as, being with- 
drawn from all earthly cogita- 
tions, thou mayeft not addi6l 
thyfelf to any delight, nay, that thou mayeft 
feek no delight, or take delight in any 
thing, or content thyfelf with the defire of 
any delight whatfoever. Cut off alfo, not 




1 68 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

only unlawful thoughts, but all fuch as are 
idle and unprofitable, fuffering none of 
them wittingly to enter into thee. Let 
thy firm refolution be to think nothing but 
either of me, or for my fake. 

2. Receive not into thy heart, as near as 
thou canft, the fimilitude and forms of 
earthly things ; but thruft out all fuch im- 
preffions and fancies, as foon as ever they 
begin to appear. Caft all thy cares and 
troubles upon me ; be not difquieted with 
any thing whatfoever fhall happen. Keep 
ever a watchful guard over thy heart, that 
no inordinate affeftion to man, woman, or 
any other creature ; no fenfual defire, no 
vicious paffion, no concupifcence, no ill in- 
clination, or wicked intention may reft in 
thee. 

3. Never give thy confent that any fepa- 
ration, although it be never fo little, remain 
between me and thee, and fee that thou 
doft in nothing either feek or refpe£t thy- 
felf, but me only, purely, fimply, and 
wholly. Lift up thy heart in every place 
unto me, and keep it ftill raifed from all 
earthly cogitations, that whatfoever thou 



To the Faithful SouL 169 

haft to fpeak, to deal in, or to think of, 
thou do firft deal with me in it by prayer, 
and by the internal difcourfe of thy foirit. 
Let every aftion and external bufmefs give 
thee matter and occafion to pray, yea, let 
the very occupation and bufmefs of thy 
heart be no other thing but a continual and 
daily prayer. 

4. See nothing, though it be never fo 
far from the nature of prayer, fo deformed 
or fo contrary to all goodnefs, but drav/ 
thou prefently out of it fome occafion to 
pray unto me, and to praife my name. Let 
all things be means for thee to lift up thy 
heart, and to raife thy affe£lion unto me. 
What fair thing foever thou feeft, what 
pleafant or delightful thing foever thou 
feeleft, acknowledge it to proceed from me, 
and let it put thee in mind of my beauty 
and glory, that I only may be thy whole 
delight and confolation. Let all things 
edify thee, and whatfoever happeneth unto 
thee, take opportunity by it to meditate 
upon fomething that may be profitable for 
thy foul. 




170 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

Chap. XXVIII. 

How we ought to refer all the Good Things 
we receive to the Goodnefs of God, 

|HALLENGE nothing to thyfelf 
by any of my works, or by the 
means of thofe gifts which I 
beftow upon thee. Thou ought- 
eft to acknowledge my gifts to my honour, 
and to wonder at my hberality and charity 
beftowed upon thee, without any defert of 
thine own, and my moft gracious bounty. 
And withal thou muft ever have prefented 
before thine eyes thine own bafenefs, and 
how thou art of thyfelf merely nothing, 
that by this confideration thou mayeft not 
afcribe or challenge anything to thyfelf out 
of thofe gifts which I beftowed upon thee, 
neither yet be rejoiced or delighted with 
any thing that thou receiveft from me, or 
for that I have wrought any good thing in 
thee. 

2. Thou oughteft not, I fay, for any of 
thefe, to rejoice in thyfelf, or be glad for 
thine own fake, that is, becaufe thou haft 



To the Faithful Soul. 171 

attained to fome goodnefs, for that fhould 
be a rejoicing altogether in thyfelf. But 
thou fhouldft rejoice in me, and for my 
gracious bounty that I have been fo good, 
fo liberal, fo gentle, and fo merciful to a 
moft unworthy and unthankful creature. 
Which goodnefs of mine, the viler that 
thou art, doth the more manifeftly appear 
in thee. 

3. Rejoice, therefore, in my gifts, not 
attributing any praife thereby to thyfelf, 
but afcribing the whole glory unto me. 
And behave thyfelf fo difcreetly in receiv- 
ing any of my gifts (excepting thankfulnefs 
and humility, which muft ever increafe in 
thee) as if nothing had been given thee, 
nothing had been wrought in"" thee, and 
that thou didft feel no good at all ; direct- 
ing thine eyes to thine own unworthinefs, 
which art of thyfelf merely nothing ; and to 
thine own difability, which art able to do 
nothing ; and to thine own imperfe6lion, 
which cannot attain to the fmalleft good- 
nefs without my grace ; that by this means 
thou mayeft not be extolled in thine own 
conceit, or rejoice in thine own ability, or 



172 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

flatter thyfelf with thine own power, but 
attribute all unto me only. 

4 If thou feeleft, therefore, any fweet 
infpiration, * or any lightening of my grace 
within thee, or that by my mercy thou art 
enabled to do another man a benefit or 
good turn, thou may eft rejoice in the good 
which I did by thee as my inftrument, but 
in no fort to rejoice in thyfelf: that is, not 
to flatter or pleafe thine own appetite (for 
in it lyeth hidden felf-love), nor to think 
that it was done by thine own power, but 
rather turn away thy heart from that which 
was done, and from thyfelf alfo, that thou 
may eft never join together thefe two cogi- 
tations, which is thyfelf and my benefit, 
except it be (as I faid) when thou com- 
pareft my infinite goodnefs with thy un- 
fpeakable bafenefs. Suff'er it to pafs over 
for that time, as though it had not been 
done at all, and as though thou underftood 
no fuch matter : and fix all thy cogitations 
in the mean feafon upon me, and not upon 
the gift which thou haft received from me. 

5. Look never, therefore, into the gift 
itfelf, neither fettle thy mind in that con- 



To the Faithful Soul. 173 

fideration, nor rejoice in it, nor yet be con- 
tented to reft there ; neither ftay, if thou 
feeleft any motion in examining and fearch- 
ing curioufly within thyfelf, what thou 
feeleft, or what thou doeft, or whether the 
motion proceed from me, or from fome 
other caufe (for this doth ever make a divi- 
fion between thee and me, and doth ftay 
thee longer from coming unto me), but 
rather pafs quickly through all thefe cogi- 
tations, and remove them clean from thee, 
and endeavour to unite thyfelf more nearly 
and firmly unto me. Choofe rather not to 
know the things which after this fort do 
bufy the mind, than with a curious fearch 
to hinder my grace, and to procure thereby 
danger to thyfelf, either of being puffed up 
with pride, or of pleafmg thyfelf, or of re- 
joicing by the provocation of felf-love in 
thine own ability, or for thine own glory. 
But refer thefe, as all other things, unto me, 
only hold this with a refolute and affured 
mind, for an infallible principle, that if I do 
grant thee any good gift, it is given merely 
without defert, to an unthankful and an 
unworthy creature. 



174 ^^ Epijlle of J ejus Ckrijl 

6. This kind of humility doth wonder- 
fully pleafe me, that thou fhouldft be 
afraid and troubled in refpe6l of thine own 
bafenefs, unworthinefs and unthankfulnefs, 
and be timorous with the confi deration of 
thefe things, and feel a fhamefacednefs and 
difquiet thereby, and rather think that thou 
feeleft no good thing at all, or that the 
motion proceedeth not from me, than to 
ftay upon the confideration thereof and re- 
joice therein. Remember alfo that I forbade 
my Apoftles to rejoice in thofe miracles 
which they wrought, or to take any glory 
becaufe unclean fpirits did fubmit them- 
felves unto them and obeyed them, 
although they were not ignorant, but did 
affuredly know that this gift proceeded 
from me. 

7. In like fort, therefore, my Daughter, 
glor>^ not thou in thyfelf, neither rejoice 
without me, for any confolation or gift 
which thou receiveft ; that is, rejoice no 
otherwife in it than may tend to the mag- 
nifying of my name, neither ftay in con- 
fideration of the thing itfelf (for therein 
doth ever fome felf-love lie lurking, which 



To the Faithful Soul. 175 

doth eafily beguile thofe that be not heed- 
ful) but rejoice in me only, that is, rejoice 
becaufe I have fhewed my glory, and ful- 
filled my will in thee. Seek no glory to 
thyfelf by my gifts, neither covet to ufurp 
or challenge to thyfelf any praife thereby, 
neither yet afcribe any thing to thine own 
ability. Afcribe nothing at all, I fay, to 
thyfelf or thine own power, neither fuffer 
any other man to attribute any thing to 
thine own worthinefs, nor rejoice in it, as if 
it were thine own aft, but refer all unto me, 
and keep thyfelf from all manner of pro- 
priety in thyfelf, from attributing any thing 
to thine own worthinefs, from defiring any- 
thing for thine own pleafure, or rejoicing 
in any thing for thine own delight. Live 
without following thine own counfel, thine 
own judgment, thine own opinion. 

8. If thou defireft, my Daughter, to be my 
Spoufe, keep thy heart chafte and pure, free 
and quite alienated from any other love 
but mine only, and from being poffeffed by 
any of my creatures, that it may be left 
whole for me to dwell in, which am thy 
Creator. As often as thou findeft any 



176 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

fenfual or natural love in thy mind to man, 
woman, or any other creature whatfoever ; 
fo often remember with forrowful groans to 
lift up thy foul unto me, earneftly defiring 
my grace and my favour only, which is a 
moft fafe refuge, a moft happy haven for 
thee, and that not for a time, but endlefs 
and eternal. 

9. Whatfoever, therefore, doth bufy thy 
fenfes with any cogitations towards any of 
my creatures, is neither pure nor without 
danger to thy foul. Whenfoever, alfo, thy 
natural appetite receiveth any recreation, 
comfort or delight (if thou feekeft to attain 
to a perfefl purity), thou muft of neceffity 
renounce that pleafure, whether it be in 
words or any other earthly thing. Thou 
muft pafs over all things with a free mind, 
in no fort fubject or in bondage unto them, 
nor adhering to any but me only. Take 
this alfo with thee for a certain rule, that 
nothing maketh a man fo free from the love 
of himfelf or any other creature, and fo far 
from being entangled with any earthly 
cogitation, as to defpife himfelf and all 
creatures, and to account of me in his 



To the Faithful Soul, 177 

heart, as his only precious jewel, efteeming 
all other things (as they are indeed) as 
filthy dung. 

10. Make a diligent fearch in all thy 
aftions, ftudies, and defires, what moveth 
thee unto them, and whether thou fpeakeft 
or holdeft thy peace, whether thou doeft 
fomewhat, or art at reft, look narrowly 
into the innermoft corners of thy foul, that 
is, into the very marrow of thy cogitations 
and intentions, and thou fhalt often find 
that the very original root and feed where- 
of this groweth, and from whence this doth 
fpring, which thou thinkeft divine, is merely 
human, impure, and a lewd feeking to 
pleafe thine own appetite. 

11. Take heed, therefore, that no vicious 
thought enter into thee, nor any inordinate 
luft remain in thee. Oh, if thou hadft thy 
heart clearly delivered from the love of every 
creature, — Oh, if being wholly converted 
unto me, thou didft defire me only, I would 
with as great a defire run to meet thee, 
and enter of mine own accord with as great 
affeftion into thy heart, as if I could not 
live without thee, or that without being with 

N 



178 An Epijile of Jefits Chrijl 

thee I could not enjoy perfe6l happinefs 
and contentment. 

12. This courfe I know will feem grievous 
unto thee at the beginning, and it cannot 
be without fome trouble thus ftraitly to 
note and obferve in all things what thou 
feekeft, what thoughts poffefs thy heart, 
and whenfoever thou findeft any cogitation 
that is not of me, or for my fake, prefently 
to root it out of thy mind. This, I fay, 
will procure thee great labour and affli6lion 
of thy fpirit. For thou fhalt find both thy- 
felf and thine own appetite lie lurking in 
many things, wherein thou muft of neceffity 
forfake both, and prefently mortify any 
defire that is unlawful and inordinate in 
thee. For if thou feekeft to overcome 
thine own nature, it followeth of neceffity 
that thou muft do it by violence and for- 
cible means. And therefore thou fhalt 
find as many croffes as thou haft wicked 
or impure inclinations, which muft be mor- 
tified in thee. 

13. But by this means, my Daughter, 
thou fhalt firft come to know thyfelf, for 
by feeing thine own difability and weak- 



To the Faithful Soul. 179 

nefs in that thou canft not overcome thy- 
felf, thou fhalt be humbled. And whereas 
before thou thoughteft thyfelf to be fome- 
what, thou fhalt then plainly find that thou 
art nothing. And if thou perfifteft in this 
courfe with continual and inceffant labour, 
that which at the firft was painful thou 
fhalt quickly find to be very eafy. For 
this diligent and daily looking into thyfelf, 
and examining of all thy thoughts, doth 
work many things in thee very profitable 
for thy falvation. It will fhew thee thine 
infirmity and imperfe6lions, it will breed 
in thee forrow for thofe fins which thou 
findeft in thyfelf, and an earneft defire to 
be delivered of them. It will alfo make 
thee very careful to beware of many 
offences, and to avoid many dangers^ 
into which otherwife • thou wouldft have 
fallen. 

14. To conclude, the labour and diftrefs 
which thou fuftaineft, and the toil which 
thou takeft to be clearly rid of thefe 
imperfeftions, and the tears which thou 
fheddeft (becaufe thou canft not overcome 
thyfelf, and clean be without thofe things 



i8o An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

which thou wouldft altogether forfake) fhall 
be a baptifm unto thee for the purging of 
thy foul, and for expiation of thine offences. 
Faint not, therefore, in thy courage, for thou 
fhalt overcome all things by fettling thy 
whole trufb in my mercy. Have confidence 
in me, and thou fhalt find that I will make 
thefe croffes light for thee, and help thee 
myfelf to bear part of the burthen. 



Chap. XXIX. 

How Divine Infpirations ought to be 

Obfervedy and the Grace of God 

not negle6led. 

|AVE care, my Daughter, to 
abound always with virtuous 
cuftoms, and to fpend thy 
time in good exercifes, that 
thou mayefb ufe the fame as a means to 
lift up thy heart unto me, when thou 
feeleft no other great or fenfible motions 
of my grace within thee. But thou fhouldft 
never addi6l thyfelf fo much to thy exer- 




To the Faithful Soul. i8i 

cife, as to prefer thine own conceits before 
my infpirations. For whenfoever thou haft 
learned to know my will (whether it be by 
the manifeftation of the will of thy fuperior, 
or by my providence, by which, of doubt- 
ful events, I do fometimes fet down a cer- 
tain judgment) follow that ftraightway, and 
forfake thine own appetite. 

2. Whenfoever alfo thou findeft a fen- 
fible and plain motion of me with thee, 
prefently leave thyfelf and obey me, by 
following of mine infpirations. For I hold 
not myfelf fatisfied though thou dofb ferve 
me, feek me, and bend thyfelf, to pleafe 
me ; but I will have thee to ferve me in 
fuch fort as my will is to be ferved, that is, 
I will have thee clean to forfake thine own 
will, yea, although it be in a thing which 
is virtuous and commendable, to follow my 
will in another thing which is not half fo 
good, but feemeth to be vile and of no 
value. For the fame thing in refpeft of 
my will, — that is, becaufe it is my pleafure, 
my ordinance, and my appointment to have 
it fo, — is not only not vile, and of no value, 
but very good, yea, and much better alfo 



1 82 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

than the other. Thou muft, therefore, often 
omit and alter thine exercifes in this fort, 
not of neghgence, not of floth, not of any 
inconftancy of thy heart, but of a pure 
and mere renouncing of thyfelf, that thou 
mayeft not, in any place or in anything, 
ftand upon thyfelf, but rely wholly upon 
me, with a firm and full confidence in me. 
3. Oh, if thou kneweft what great danger 
and what great lofs of fpiritual profit is 
incurred by not receiving of mine infpira- 
tions when I fend them, and how damnable 
it is to refift my divine motions, thy heart 
would even confume for grief and very fear 
of my juftice. Wherefore, my Daughter, 
ftand always in fear of thine own aftions, 
and fufpeft thyfelf ever of unthankfulnefs 
towards me. Be ever in doubt that it may 
fo happen unto thee for thy deferts, as it 
hath happened to many others, that thou 
mayeft for thy pride and ingratitude be 
juftly forfaken of me, and defervedly fall 
from my grace. Be humble, therefore, 
always having no confidence in thyfelf, but 
in me. Pray continually for my grace, and 
obferve my infpirations with great heed, 



To the Faithful SoicL 183 

that thou mayefl know what I require of 
thee ; and it is not only fufficient for thee 
to know my will, but to do it whenfoever 
thou fhalt come to know it, and defpifmg 
all other things whatfoever, to prefer it 
before any delight or contentation of thine 
own. And whereas I warned thee that 
thou fhouldft be afraid for lofmg of my 
grace, and for being forfaken of me by 
thine own negligence and ingratitude, thou 
muft have a fpecial care that this fear pro- 
ceed not of defperation or of a weak faith, 
but of humility, which is ever of fear, full 
of hope and confidence in me. 

4. If thou art not able to imitate the 
exercifes of other men, be not therefore 
difcouraged, or dejefted in thine own mind. 
For thou ftiouldft not fo much refpe6l 
other men's exercifes or their virtues, fee- 
ing that I do diftribute my gifts to every 
man according to his conftitution by nature, 
and that particular vocation whereunto I 
call him, and agreeable to that fcope and 
certain end whereunto I appoint him. I 
furnifh him alfo with divers exercifes, fit 
for him, which are unfit for many others, 



184 An Epiftle of J ejus Chriji 

and not meet for everybody, becaufe the 
nature or vocation of particular men, to 
the which my grace for the moft part is 
accommodated and made agreeable, is dif- 
ferent, and many times very contrary. If, 
therefore, thou canft not follow other men's 
exercifes of virtue, yet thou mayeft imitate 
their virtues, for they are not different, but 
one and the fame in all. As for example, 
thou mayeft be humble, thou mayeft be 
merciful, thou mayeft be patient, and thou 
mayeft refemble other men in the very 
fame virtues, though thou canft not imitate 
them in the very fame exercifes. For there 
is but one way to pleafe me, which hath 
been to all my holy fervants ever one, uni- 
form and the fame. 

5. This is the way of charity, which hath 
many and fundry exercifes of my holy fer- 
vants, direfted to one end, and which thou 
muft walk, by whatfoever means I fhall 
appoint unto thee. If thou walkeft in this 
way of charity, that is, if thou follow me, 
by receiving of all things as from me, by 
committing of all things unto me, by hum- 
bling thyfelf under my mighty hand, by 



To the Faithful Sotcl. 185 

yielding thyfelf unto me, by refpe6ling me 
only, and feeking my glory in all things 
that either thou doft or fpeakeft, I will not 
fuffer thee to go aftray, though thou walkeft 
in never so great darknefs or ignorance, 
though thou art vexed with never fo great 
temptation or diftrefs, and though thou 
thinkeft thyfelf never- fo quite forfaken or 
reje6led by me. 

6. Have thou, therefore, confideration al- 
ways of thy vocation or calling, and ufe 
exercifes agreeable to the fame, being ever 
ready to leave them, change them, difcon- 
tinue them, and refume them, according as 
thou fhalt be dire6led by my infpiration, 
providence, and good pleafure. For thou 
fhouldfb not meafure thy perfe6lions by 
this or that man's account, nor by thine 
own eftimation. But thou oughteft to 
meafure it by my good pleafure, refigning 
thyfelf wholly thereunto, that thou mayeft 
not feek to attain to this or that man's 
perfeftion, or to fuch as thou defireft thy- 
felf, but to fuch as my will is to appoint 
thee. 

7. Let that perfe6lion, therefore, which 



1 86 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

thou defireft confift either in abundance 
or fcarcity, according to my will and good 
pleafure. Wifh and pray that thou mayeft 
be fuch an one in my fight, as my fpecial 
will is to have thee. Obferve diligently, 
and learn both to know and follow the in- 
fpiration of my grace. If thou neither 
feekeft to pleafe thyfelf in thy natural in- 
clinations, nor in thy fpiritual exercifes, 
but refpe6l me only with a pure intention, 
thou fhalt quickly find the way wherein I 
would have thee to walk, and the courfe 
which my defire is thou fhouldft always 
hold. 



Chap. XXX. 

How we inuji employ the Gifts of God which 

we receive to the Benefit of Others, 

WILL not have thee, my Daugh- 
ter, to negleft thofe graces and 
gifts which I befbow upon thee. 
But take heed alfo that thou 
doft not feek thine own commendation in 
thefe graces of mine, that thou doft not 




To the Faithful Soid. 187 

by them afcribe anything to thine own 
worthinefs, that thou art not puffed up 
with pride, that thou doft not boaft of 
them, glory in them, or defire to pleafe 
thine own felf by them, but employ them 
all wholly to my glory ; remembering ever 
efpecially above all things, that of thyfelf 
thou art nothing, haft nothing, and art able 
to do nothing. And that whatfoever thou 
haft, thou haft received from me only. 

2. And that I love not to have my gifts 
return unto me fruitlefs, and without doing 
of any good, but with gain and ufury, as I 
forewarned all men in the parable of talents, 
which I fpake of in the Gofpel. For as 
thine eye in thy body is not an eye only 
for itfelf, nor is placed there only for the 
ufe and benefit of itfelf, but to the end that 
it may help all the reft of the members to 
fee, fo what talents or gifts foever I have 
beftowed upon thee, I have not given them 
for thine own felf only, that thou fhouldft 
reap the whole fruit and benefit of them to 
thine own ufe, but I have placed thefe gifts 
or good things in thee, for the benefit of 
other members of my myftical body ; that 



1 88 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrift 

by them thou mayeft ferve others, help 
others, and both gain and draw thy neigh- 
bours to the knowledge of my will, and the 
doing of my commandments. For perad- 
venture I gave not them thofe things which 
I gave thee, becaufe in thee I provided 
both for them and thyfelf alfo ; as on the 
contrary part, I have to the fame end with- 
holden many graces from thee which I 
beftowed upon them. For in thefe things 
which I beftowed upon others, I had refpeft 
unto thee, and gave them not for them- 
felves only, but for thee in them, becaufe I 
beftowed thofe graces upon them for thy 
benefit. 

2. I require, therefore, at thy hands, that 
thou employ my gifts to other men's wel- 
fare, and helpeft other men moft willingly, 
by them, as much as lieth in thy.power. 
If thou canft do fomewhat which they can 
not, that fo by this means one kind of 
charity remaining in you all, may make of 
many of you one body. And whatfoever 
this body hath, in one member, let him em- 
ploy it to the benefit of the reft. For 
every member ought to make one another 



To the Faithful Soul. 189 

partaker of the gifts which every one of 
them receiveth, by reafon of the union of 
the body and communion of charity which 
is amongft them. 

3. Let this confideration of my will 
make thee, my Daughter, cheerful to ferve 
thy neighbours, glad to bear their burdens, 
meek to fufifer with them, gentle to comfort 
them, ready to fuccour them, and willing 
to rejoice with them, that no envy at all, 
no contention, no emulation, no feeking to 
pleafe thine own appetite, be found in thee, 
nor yet that any of thefe things may ap- 
pear in thy fellows, but that there may 
remain between you perfe6l charity, and 
the communicating of my gifts one with 
another, as between the members of one 
body. For thou haft nothing that is thine 
own. For what hast thou that thou haft 
not received t Wherefore, thou haft nothing, 
as I have faid, that is not mine, thou haft 
nothing that is given to thyfelf alone ; that 
is, thou haft nothing that is given thee for 
thyfelf only, but all things whatfoever thou 
haft received are committed to thy cuftody, 
to be altogether employed for the benefit 



IQO An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

of the whole body of my Church, and look 
unto it, for I will require an account at thy 
hands, how thou haft beftowed the fame. 

4. Take heed, therefore, that thou be 
never carried away with fo profound a con- 
templation, or think thyfelf fo well and 
fo perfeftly contented in being with me, 
but that (if either the corporal or fpiritual 
neceffity of thy neighbour do call thee 
away from it) thou be ready to forfake thine 
own confolation, the pleafure of thine own 
devotion, yea, and the fweet exercife or 
matter wherewith the confolation itfelf is 
nourifhed, and neglefting wholly to pleafe 
thyfelf, be willing to run in hafte to help 
thy neighbour for my fake. For this is 
perfe6l charity, not to feek thine own, but 
thy neighbour's benefit. And this charity 
is more acceptable unto me, and more pro- 
fitable for thyfelf, than all the contempla- 
tion or devotion that thou canft ufe of thine 
own. 

5. Moreover, remember always that in 
all thy a6lions, in all thy aff"e6lions, and in 
all thofe things which either thou doft or 
makeft choice of, or fuffereft or feekeft to 



To the Faithfid SotiL 191 

avoid, I may be thy beginning, thy middle, 
and thy end. That whatfoever thou doeft 
or leaveft undone may be for my fake, and 
that in the following of this courfe thou 
feekeft no other thing, but only my glory, 
and the fulfilling of my pleafure. For the 
deed is not fo acceptable to me, in refpedl 
of itfelf, when thou doft fuccour or takeft 
compaffion upon thy neighbour ; but thou 
art in doing hereof moft acceptable in my 
fight becaufe thou doft, for my fake, leave 
thyfelf; that is, becaufe thou forfakeft 
thine own welfare, and feekeft to relieve 
thy neighbour's neceffity. For if thou doft 
any thing for any other refpe6l, whether it 
be for favour, friendftiip, or any fpecial 
bond of kindred or familiarity, or for any 
gain or recompenfe which thou lookeft to 
receive, I accept not of it, but reje6l it, 
although it be never fo great and worthy 
an aft. For I accept of no facrifice that is 
offered up unto me, if it be not offered for 
my fake, only and wholly. 




192 An Epiftle of J ejus Chrijl 



Chap. XXXI. 

Of Poverty in Spirit, 

\0 with all zeal and earneftnefs as 
many good works as thou art 
able, hungering and thirfting 
after juftice. And let no man 
feem unto thee more weak and imperfe6l, 
more void of all virtues, and more un- 
worthy of my grace than thyfelf. Fix 
thine eyes always upon thine own defefts, 
bewailing and lamenting that thou haft fo 
many imperfeftions, and wanteft fo many 
virtues. But remember withal that it is 
not thy duty to think and look into other 
men's manners, what virtues they have, 
what ways they walk, and how they be- 
have themfelves towards me. 

2. I know what I have given everybody; 
I know alfo what account is fit for me to 
require at everybody's hand. Imagine thy- 
felf in thine own eyes the bafeft, vileft, and 
wickedeft of all men, and as it were merely 
nothing. Be afhamed in my prefence, if 
thou heareft any man praife thee, or fhew 



To the Faithful Soul. 193 

a good conceit of thee, and be forry for it, 
becaufe by it they do me injury, in that 
they think well of thee, which art fo vile a 
foul, fo unclean, fo unthankful, and fo full 
of ofifences againft me. 

3. Think thyfelf fo vile, as that every 
man may lawfully and with juft caufe con- 
temn and defpife thee, and that thou 
mayeft not think thyfelf injured, or elfe 
wronged at any time whenfoever any feek 
to lay reproaches or affli6lions upon thee. 
For thou oughteft to receive commenda- 
tions or reproaches with an equal con- 
tentment in thy mind, and without any 
difference, but only in accounting thy- 
felf altogether unworthy of commendation, 
and moft worthy of reproach. For as long 
as thou thinkeft thyfelf to be wronged, as 
long as thou complaineft, and doft believe 
that thou haft received any injury, thou art 
not clearly purged of felf-love. For thou 
fhouldft not, in truth, take anything for 
an injury, but that wrong which is done 
unto me. 

4. Submit thyfelf, therefore, fo wholly to 
my will and pleafure, as thou mayeft be as 

O 



194 ^^ Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

well content with evil as with good, with 
grief as with joy, which by an external ac- 
cident doth happen to thee in this world, 
remaining always poor internally in thy 
fpirit, hungering and thirfting (as I faid) 
after juftice, and having a heart free from 
all earthly cogitations, and ready with all 
zeal and earneftnefs ever to do thofe things 
which agree beft with my good pleafure. 



Chap. XXXIL 

Of the Love of God, 

MY Daughter, even as the hart 
defireth to come unto the foun- 
tains of water, fo let thy foul 
have a defire to come unto me, 
and thy mind be inflamed with the love 
and defire of me. He that is oppreffed 
with a vehement thirft, can think of no- 
thing but of drink only ; for whatfoever he 
doth, his burning thirft never forfaketh him, 
but fbill provoketh him with earneft cogita- 
tions and continual defires to have fome 
drink 




To the Faithful Sotil. 195 

2. In like fort if thou didft love me per- 
fectly, if thou didft long for me vehemently 
thou couldft think of nothing elfe but how 
thou mighteft come unto me, how thou 
mighteft be united unto me. There would 
always remain in thee fuch a hunger and 
thirft after juftice, that thou wouldft never 
be fatisfied or contented with that which 
thou haft done to mine honour, how great 
foever it were, but ever grieved and per- 
plexed in thy mind, with thinking that the 
fame which thou haft done already for my 
honour was nothing at all. Thou wouldft 
always endeavour thyfelf to do better, thou 
wouldft always thirft to be more perfeft, 
thy heart would ever burn with defire to be 
more nearly united unto me, to honour me 
more, and more fully to fulfil my will and 
good pleafure. 

3. They which are inflamed with an ex- 
ceeding and an unmeafurable love towards 
any man or woman, do loathe meat, drink, 
and all other things which feem either for 
delights to pleafe them or for neceffary ufe 
to fuftain their body, and pine away and 
grow fickly if they cannot enjoy their de- 



196 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

fire, or if they find and perceive that they 
are not loved again. For they languifh 
with mere love, and that maketh them that 
they can neither take any joy, nor receive 
any comfort, nor find any reft, except they 
may obtain that which they love. 

4. Oh, my Daughter, thou oughteft to 
love me in this fort, that thou mighteft 
find in me only joy and confolation, and 
without me in all places nothing but forrow 
and affliftion. If thou didft rightly love 
me as thou fhouldft do, thou couldft not 
be in reft until thou didft poffefs me. 
For there would be a continual thirft, 
hunger, and defire burn within thy foul, 
not permitting thee to enjoy any quiet 
at all. Oh, that thou didft languifh with 
fuch a kind of love towards me, or that, 
hating all other things, thou didft defire 
me only. 

5. Oh, that thou didft prefent thy heart 
unto me quite weaned, and clearly de- 
livered from all other love whatfoever, that 
I may ftill draw it after me, and both 
pierce it through and wound it to the bottom 
with my love. Oh, how happy ftiouldft 



To the Faithful Soul. 197 

thou be if, being made quite befides thy- 
felf, and drunk with extremity of love to- 
wards me, thou didfb defpife all things elfe, 
thou didft loathe all my creatures, and 
didfh run only after me, crying unto me, 
I am wounded with thy charity. Thou 
oughteft, my Daughter, to be inflamed with 
fo fervent an afifeftion towards me, as who- 
foever did come near unto thee, might per- 
ceive no other thing elfe, but only the heat 
of thine affeftion towards me, breathing 
out of thee ; and whofoever did talk with 
thee might depart edified from thee, and 
warmed with the flames of that affeftion 
towards me which he found kindled in thy 
foul. 

6. If, therefore, thou defireft to love me, 
thou muft love me with thy whole heart. 
I will not allow that thou fhouldft love me, 
and join with me anything elfe befides me, 
that is, that thou fhouldft not love any thing 
for any other refpe6l but for my fake only. 
I look to be loved purely, and that thou 
canfb never do but when thou loveft me for 
my own felf; that I only, and no other 
refpeft whatfoever, be the caufe why thou 



198 An Epijlle of Jefiis Chriji 

loveft me. I will alfo be loved with an 
infinite love, and with an unmeafurable de- 
fire ; for thou fhouldft never find in thy 
foul any end or meafure in loving me, but 
although thou didft love me never fo much, 
thou fhouldft always defire to love me 
more. For my love is not reftrained within 
any limits, but it is infinite, and without 
any bounds. It never thinketh itfelf fatif- 
fied, it can never be filled or contented 
with any quantity, though it be never fo 
exceeding great, it will every day grow 
and increafe to be more. For charity doth 
always increafe, and what is charity but a 
good will } 

7. As, therefore, a good will cannot be 
reftrained within any limit, and as it is 
without all end, fo is charity likewife. I 
know that thou haft a will to love me with 
all thy heart, and that thou defireft to love 
me as much thyfelf alone, as all my holy 
fervants do, joining all their love together. 
This defire is good, if it proceed not from 
an appetite of defiring, in refpe6l that thou 
wouldft be more excellent than they, and 
fingular above them all, as though thou 



To the Faithftil Soul. 199 

only couldft love me as much as all they 
when all their love were put together. It 
is a good defire, I fay, if it fpringeth from 
pure and perfe6l charity only, and that 
thou doft for my own fake, without any 
other refpe6l, defire me, love me, and wifh 
ftill to increafe in the love of me, and feek 
to love me as much alone, as it is poffible 
for all other beings joined together. Have 
care, therefore, that this defire of thine pro- 
ceed not of any appetite to be preferred 
before others, but only becaufe charity can 
never be fatisfied or filled, and that the 
greatnefs thereof maketh thee to think that 
how much foever thou loveft me, is much 
inferior in thine eyes to that afife6lion which 
thou doft defire to carry towards me, and in 
no fort either anfwerable or agreeable to 
thy defire. 

8. My love is no idle love, but it worketh 
great things where it is indeed. And where 
there is no defire, but an unaptnefs and 
unwillingnefs to do good works, there is no 
love without all doubt. And yet, notwith- 
ftanding this, if thou wanteft ability to do 
good works, be not therefore difcouraged, 



200 AnEpiJlle of J ejus Chrijl 

my Daughter, or dejefled in thy mind, for 
thy goodwill pleafeth me as much as if the 
work were done, and is as acceptable in my 
fight. I will not require an account of thee 
for that I have not beftowed upon thee. 
For it is not the multitude of works, but 
the greatnefs of love which delighteth me. 
Many good works, if they be prefented 
unto me without charity, do pacify me no 
whit at all. For what is chaff to me with- 
out wheat } To whomfoever thou doft 
offer wheat, which is love, offer him alfo 
chaff, which is works. 

9. For although I regard not works with- 
out love, yet I will have good regard of 
thy love without works, fo as thou be 
hindered by difability, neceffity, obedience, 
or any other lawful impediment, in fuch 
fort, as thou art not able to do good works. 
For then, as I have faid, I accept of thy 
good will. But where power wanteth not, 
if love remain, it doth extend itfelf, and 
exercife itfelf towards me, and for my fake 
towards her neighbour. For I have placed 
him as a companion with thee in my ftead, 
that whatfoever thou wouldft beftow upon 



To the Faithful Soul. 201 

me, and cannot, thou mayeft beftow upon 
him. And that thou mayeft do it the more 
willingly, I have promifed that I will accept 
as well at thy hands, and reward as largely, 
any thing that thou doft towards thy neigh- 
bour as if thou hadft done it to myfelf. 
For if thou haft charity, it worketh fo in 
thee, as thou loveft him for my fake, thou 
beholdeft me in him, thou ferveft me in 
him, thou doeft me benefits in him, thou 
doft bear and fuffer with me in him, and if 
he offend thee, thou doft forgive him for 
my fake. 

10. And for this caufe I gave him unto 
thee in my ftead, that thou mayeft beftow 
thefe good turns upon him, as time and 
place ferveth, and as thou haft opportunity 
offered by me to do the fame. For thou 
muft not forget that which I repeated be- 
fore, how charity is not to be meafured or 
efteemed by the multitude of works, but by 
the greatnefs and fincerity of thy afife6lion, 
that is, by the inward devotion of thy mind, 
joined with a pure, chafte, and internal dif- 
pofition, inclination, and intention of thy 
will, which, the more ready, prompt, fervent, 



202 An Epifile of J ejus Chrijl 

and defirous it is to obey me, honour me, 
and pleafe me, and the more that fhe re- 
nounceth her own felf, in feeking to pleafe 
me purely, without any other refpe6l, and 
to prefer me before all other creatures, the 
more fhe is drawn to love me, and the 
brighter fhe doth fliine in all good works. 

II. Oh, if the children of men did know 
how much it pleafeth me to dwell in fuch a 
foul, how gladly I do offer myfelf unto her 
which defireth me only, how bountifully I 
do pour myfelf into fuch a heart as doth 
feek me only with a pure intention, being 
withdrawn and free both from the love of 
herfelf and of any other creature befides, 
defiring me fervently, refpe6ling me wholly, 
ftaying for me patiently, and refufmg to be 
comforted with any other thing but with me 
only. Nay, fuch a heart as I fpeak of will 
not defire to be comforted by me, becaufe 
fhe thinketh herfelf unworthy to receive 
any confolation from me, but defireth only 
to be fatisfied with having my good will 
and pleafure fulfilled in her. For fhe only 
defireth to do, to fuffer, and to be in no 
other fort than agreeth with my pleafure ; 



To the Faithful SotiL 203 

and then, although fuch a heart neither de- 
fireth comfort, nor any thing elfe, which is 
without me, yet I do reward and enrich her 
with all bleffings and benefits. 

12. For there can be nothing wanting in 
any creature, neither can there be any thing 
forfaken for the love of me, that is fo good 
but that there fhall be found in me things 
inftead of them, a hundred times better, 
purer, fweeter, pleafanter, and more de- 
lightful than they were. For whether it be 
beauty, fweetnefs, pleafantnefs, delight, love, 
truth, confolation, the continual enjoying 
of fuch things as men do like, riches, glory, 
power, and innumerable other things of the 
fame fort, which either may bring delights 
to them or procure defire to them ; all 
thefe things are after an infinite manner 
more excellent, and more perfe6l in me, 
than in any creature whatfoever. 

1 3. Oh, my Daughter, the fmalleft confo- 
lation which thou feeleft by the prefence of 
my goodnefs in thy foul doth furmount all 
the delights of the world, and the pleafure 
that can be taken in any creature whatfo- 
ever. Yea, all other delights being com- 



204 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

pared with it, do feem bitter and unpleafant 
Wherefore, if things were meafured by a 
true and juft account, it could not be but 
that men would love me better than them- 
felves, or any other creature. But now (it 
is a lamentable thing to be fpoken) men do 
leave me, who am their greateft good ; they 
defpife my goodnefs. Nay, which is more, 
they forfake their own true and only happi- 
nefs, and fall to love themfelves, to delight 
in the world, from whence all difquietnefs 
of mind and all other mifchiefs do proceed. 
14. Alas! why are miferable men so far 
deceived ? If they delight in love, why 
love they not me, whofe love is chafte, pure, 
holy, and fimple; who am an objeft always 
offered to their eyes, of infinite amiablenefs, 
being effentially good in myfelf, being a 
pure good, unmixed, being the chiefeft and 
fovereign good, where the reward of love 
alfo is unfpeakable delight, and moft bleffed 
eternity ? Whereas the love of the world, 
on the contrary part, doth breed nothing in 
thy foul but unquietnefs, bitternefs, diftrac- 
tion, repentance, and heavinefs. Leave 
thou, therefore, and contemn all worldly 



To the Faithful Sotd. 205 

things, and defire me only, being united 
unto me with all thy foul, with all thy 
heart, and with all thy will. For as long 
as thou doft addi6l thyfelf to the love of 
creatures, thou fhalt find that which is in 
creatures ; that is, thou fhalt be defiled and 
difquieted with corrupt and unclean de- 
lights, and yet, befides that, be never fatif- 
fied or contented. And thou fhalt alfo be 
polluted with impure imaginations, and be 
diftrafted with fundry cogitations, that are 
lewd and wicked. But I do recolle6l that 
heart, which feeketh to be joined with me, 
and I unite it faft unto me, procuring in it 
by my means all peace, quietnefs, and all 
tranquillity of confcience. 

15. Thou oughteft continually to entreat 
me, and without ceafing to pray unto me, 
that thou mayeft after this fort forfake the 
world, renounce the love of all my crea- 
tures, and be wholly converted unto me, 
and inwardly dedicated in thy foul to my 
fervice. For no man can beftow this grace 
on thee, neither canft thou obtain it by any 
other means but by me only. Wherefore 
thou muft always with great regard obferve 



2o6 An Epijlle of Jefiis Chrijl 

the internal infpirations of my grace, thou 
muft follow my counfel, obey my exhorta- 
tions, and commit thyfelf altogether to my 
providence. My infpirations do never dif- 
agree from the holy Scripture, nor from the 
obedience which thou mufh carry to thy 
Superiors. Therefore, if thou fubmitteft 
thyfelf unto them, and relieft in no refpeft 
upon thine own felf, thou art fure to walk 
in all fimplicity and purity of heart. 

1 6. Love is an incomparable treafure, and 
therefore I fhould be the ftore-houfe of the 
fame, and it fhould never be laid up but in 
me only. Oh, my Daughter, where thy 
treafure is, there is thy heart alfo. If, then, 
thou wilt know what thou loveft, mark 
what thou doft ofteneft think upon, what 
thou doft with greateft delight and willing- 
nefs hearken unto, what thou doft moft 
fervently defire, what thou doft inwardly in 
thine own appetite moft feek, and bend 
thyfelf unto ; for that is, without all doubt, 
thy treafure, and therein thou findeft fweet- 
eft reft, moft quiet, and greateft content- 
ment. And both of them is thy treafure, 
both the thing which thou loveft and the 



To the Faithful Soul. 207 

love wherewith thou loveft the fame. But 
fee into how great mifery, how great un- 
thankfulnefs, and how great infelicity men 
do fall by this means ; for they do purchafe 
to themfelves hell fire, w^th the expenfe of 
incomparable treafure, which is love. For 
if men contemning me, fall to love cor- 
rupt, unclean, and frail things, fuch as will 
quickly perish ; they do with the fame 
love which they beftow upon them procure 
unto themfelves eternal torment. Let all 
my friends, therefore, bewail and lament 
this ftrange and unnatural kind of dealing, 
that I am clean thruft out of the heart of 
man, for whom I ofifered up myfelf in facri- 
fice, and whofe falvation I did buy with my 
precious blood ; and that another which is 
mine enemy, doth poffefs it, and doth pof- 
fefs it only to this end, that he may draw 
them with him into eternal deftruftion, into 
endlefs mifery, and into unquenchable fire. 




2o8 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrifl 

Chap. XXXIII. 

Of the Praife of God, 

|E always inflamed, my Daughter, 
with a defire to praife me, to 
love me, to honour me, and to 
pleafe me from the bottom of thy 
heart altogether, and by all the means that 
thou art able, and in fuch mofl perfe6l fort 
as I require at thy hands. Carry always 
in thy heart fo great a reverence, fo great a 
fear, fo great a care, fo great a love and 
afifeftion towards me, and for me, as thou 
mayeft never do any thing to difpleafe or of- 
fend me. And although it ought to be thy 
greateft care, thy chiefeft fear, and thy fpe- 
cial labour, not to do any thing thyfelf, or to 
give any occafion by thine own negligence, 
that any thing fhould be done to offend me ; 
yet, neverthelefs, thou oughteft alfo to take 
as much care as lieth in thee for others, that 
I be not by them difhonoured or offended, 
or that they do break my will and command- 
ment. And thou oughteft to do this with a 
pure intention of mere charity, for my fake, 
without any other refpedl. 



To the Faithful Soul, 209 

2. For there fhould ever abound in thy 
heart a moft faithful, fervent, and devout 
love of me, which fhould continually flow 
with forcible flreams every day nearer and 
nearer tow^ards me, and it fhould carry thee 
with fo great violence, and run over in fuch 
exceeding abundance, as it fhould make 
thee moft ready and deflrous to do all things 
that may be for my glory, and for the ful- 
filling of my pleafure ; and it fhould poffefs 
thee in fuch fort as thou Ihouldft defire 
nothing fo much as to be clearly delivered, 
quite difcharged, and altogether weaned 
from all love, refpe6l, defire, or inclination 
towards thyfelf, or any of my creatures, 
and to keep thyfelf in the fame ftate, pure, 
clean, chafte, and unfpotted to me only, 
defiring me with a pure intention, and no 
other thing ; that by this means I may have 
my will, without any impediment, freely and 
wholly fulfilled in thee, and by thee, and. that 
I only may poffefs thee, and that there may 
be no fpace or divifion between thee and me, 
but that thou mayeft be clofe united unto 
me, having renounced and forfaken all love, 
both of thyfelf and any other creature. 

P 



2IO An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

3. Defire likewife that my will may be 
done in all things, and with all men, and 
that all men may know me, love me, 
honour me, worfhip me, and ferve me. 
Thou wouldft rather choofe to fuffer ten 
deaths (if thou wert a faithful fpoufe unto 
me) than once to confent to any fin, al- 
though it were but venial. For albeit it is 
not likely that thou canft long ftand in per- 
fe6lion without venial fin, yet thou muft 
not in any wife, willingly or of fet purpofe, 
yield to any venial fin, but thou muft ever 
be fully refolved in thine own will never to 
fin again. And thou muft fix and fettle 
this will of thine, in the hope of my grace, 
and not upon any confidence in thine own 
ability. 

4. I do ever pleafe and delight him that 
loveth me, and all my works and judgments 
feem fweet and pleafant to him, and he 
never ceafeth to praife me for them. He 
that loveth me need not ftudy to find 
fomewhat for which he might praife me, 
for the love which he beareth me will fhew 
unto him what may or ought to be praifed 
in me. And to praife me is no other thing 



To the Faithful Soul. 211 

but, by loving me, to think upon me ; and 
by honouring of me, to wonder at my 
works ; and by wondering at my works, to 
defire that all men fhould extol, magnify, 
and love me. My praife doth lighten his 
heart which loveth me with a pure affe6lion, 
it doth rejoice his fpirit, it driveth away all 
heavinefs from him, and withal it is a fafe 
proteftion for him, both in profperity and 
adverfity. 

5. Whofoever fpendeth his time in praif- 
ing of me, it maketh him with all fortitude of 
mind to contemn all the mifchief that the 
fubtlety of man or the devil can praftife 
againft him. Oh, how delightful a thing is it 
to my angels to hear the fweet fongs of 
them which do continually praife me 
(although it be much more delightful unto 
them to affift their pure hearts, and to help 
them in fetting forth of my praife) for they 
fee men upon earth do imitate by this 
means the order of the celeftial companies 
in heaven, as though they had received 
here the earneft-penny, or elfe fome fen- 
fible feeling of eternal happinefs, which is 
only a continual praifmg and magnifying 



212 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

of my name. For there is nothing that 
doth fo Hvely refemble the ftate of the 
bleffed happinefs in the world to come, as 
the cheerful and delightful voice of thofe 
which do praife my name. 

6. And touching myfelf, I am of fo great 
majefty and omnipotency, as I ftand in 
need of no praife, and no praife can make 
me more glorious than I am already, 
neither is any creature able to praife and 
magnify me as I do deferve. Wherefore 
thou oughteft to think thyfelf moft un- 
worthy to praife me ; neverthelefs, defire 
yet to praife me, that thou mayeft know, 
and it may appear manifefh unto thee, how 
that all human praife is nothing in refpe6t 
of my worthinefs, and how I am far greater 
than all the praife that can be given me, 
and how all creatures, when they have 
praifed me as much as they are able, have 
done it much inferior to that I am worthy 
of, and therefore mufl: yield that they are 
altogether infufficient to praife me. And 
although that I declare unto thee how that 
every creature muft give this praife to me, 
yet I would have thee efpecially to imprint 



To the Faithful Soul. 213 

this leffon in thy mind, that although thou 
doft endeavour never fo much to praife me 
(which thou oughteft at all times to do 
with all thy force) yet thou fhouldft think 
that thou hadft done nothing at all. 

7. I will tell thee, my Daughter, what 
kind of praife doth pleafe me — vocal praife. 
Although I would have thee always to ufe 
it, and with thy voice to perform it, when- 
foever thou art commanded by the precept 
of my Church to fay or fmg anything, yet 
I muft needs tell thee that it doth not 
pleafe me fo much as that internal praife 
which confifteth in the fpirit. A profound 
contemplation and perfe6l knowledge of 
thine own bafenefs, a confideration of thine 
own weaknefs, how thou art of thyfelf 
merely nothing, and a modeft fhame pro- 
cured by the means of thy unworthinefs 
before my Majefty, is a moft fweet fmelling 
facrifice, and a moft delightful praife unto 
me. Becaufe thou fhalt be brought by it, 
with a fhame-faced kind of modefly, con- 
tinually to look into and to defpife, in my 
glorious prefence, thine own vilenefs, de- 
formednefs, unthankfulnefs, wretchednefs 



2 14 ^^ Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

and mifery, and be alfo moved to acknow- 
ledge how thou art of thyfelf merely 
nothing, and therefore be defirous to 
humble and fubje6l thyfelf before me and 
every one of my creatures, and to be 
willing, or rather to wifh to be in refpe6l of 
thine own bafenefs, contemned, and trod- 
den under them all. Such a contrite and 
humbled heart I can never defpife ; yea, the 
forrowful groans of fuch a heart, are a much 
fweeter and worthier facrifice unto me than 
a huge heap of many words and a tedious 
multitude of vocal prayers only. 

8. Moreover, thou doft then likewife 
truly and rightly praife me when I am as 
acceptable unto thee for fending adverfity 
as profperity, and when thou giveft me as 
many thanks, and remainefb as devoutly 
and zealoufly affefted towards me in thine 
own will, for the one as for the other. It 
is not alfo the leaft praife that thou mayeft 
yield me to beware of fin, to take great 
pains in feeking after virtue, to thirft for 
the honouring and extolling of my name, 
and to feek only for the fulfilling of my 
pleafure and the fetting forth of my glory. 



To the Faithftcl SouL 215 

Befides this, it is a much purer kind of 
praife, and more acceptable unto me than 
any vocal praife, to keep thy heart unde- 
filed, pure, and free from all vicious affec- 
tions, from all flothful humours, from all 
heavinefs, unwillingnefs, and frowardnefs 
in thy foul, and to cleave unto me only in 
all peace, tranquillity, and filence of thy 
fpirit. 

9. What motion foever thou feeleft within 
thee, my Daughter, what outward accident 
foever doth happen unto thee, prefently 
repair unto me with thy heart wholly con- 
verted and fubmitted unto my will, and 
wifh that it may be turned by my grace to 
my greateft glory and higheft praife. By 
doing after this fort, all things that happen 
unto thee fhall be for the furtherance of 
thy falvation, and even nature itfelf by this 
virtuous cuftom fhall be changed into grace. 
Wherefore, if thou findeft within thyfelf 
any mifchievous attempts of the devil, any 
filthy temptations or horrible blafphemies, or 
doft fenfibly perceive in thy foul the motion 
of any odious temptation whatfoever, en- 
deavour thou to win fome profit or benefit to 



2i6 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

thy foul by the fame means whereby thine 
enemy feeketh to do thee a mifchief, and 
account it a benefit for thy foul, if it may 
bring thee to praife and glorify me. 

lo. As foon, therefore, as thou feeleft 
any of thefe temptations, come prefently 
unto me, and fay : O Lord, my God, as 
often as I feel this temptation, as often as 
it cometh into my mind, fo often do I 
glorify Thee, with the praifes of the whole 
court of heaven, and fo often do I adore 
Thee, to the confufion of this wicked fpirit 
which affaulteth me, and to the honour and 
glory of Thy name. And in his place I 
offer unto Thee infinite praifes, which he is 
not able to do. If it be a grievous tempta- 
tion which thou feelefb, fay : O moft merci- 
ful God, although it be very troublefome 
which I fuffer, yet I will willingly endure it 
for the love of Thee only, and for Thy 
honour ; and if it may be to Thy greater 
honour that I fhould fuffer greater and 
more grievous temptations than this is, 
behold, I offer myfelf ready with all my 
heart to do it. Let nothing, O merciful God, 
feem fo troublefome unto me, but that I may 



To the Faithful Soul, 217 

defire above all things to fuftain any thing 
that may be for the glory of Thy name. 

11. If thou feeleft any cogitation in thy 
foul of beautiful, delightful, or precious 
things, fay : O, moft fweet God, this pro- 
ceedeth from Thee, which art moft goodly, 
moft beautiful, moft fweet, moft to be de- 
fired, and moft worthy to be embraced, 
becaufe Thou art the greateft good. If it 
be Thy pleafure, I will willingly want all 
Thy creatures, I will willingly forfake all 
confolation, that Thou only mayeft remain 
in my heart, and mayeft wholly poffefs me, 
which art moft beautiful, and far more 
beautiful than all the faireft things befides 
Thee ; which art moft fweet, and far more 
fweet than all the beft and fweeteft things 
befides Thee ; which art moft to be defired, 
and above all to be beloved, becaufe Thou 
art far more amiable and precious than all 
the moft precious and moft amiable things 
befides Thee. 

12. Likewife, if thou either heareft or 
feeft any number affembled together, or as 
often as thou beholdeft any exceeding 
beautiful thing or great multitude of people, 



2i8 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

id^y fo often in the day to thyfelf : O moft 
good and moft amiable Lord, O Almighty 
and eternal God, let thoufand thoufands of 
the armies of celeftial fpirits praife Thee out 
of me, and let ten thoufand hundred thou- 
fand of thofe that ftand before Thee extol 
and magnify Thy name out of me and for me, 
and let all the worthy fupplications of Thy 
Bleffed Saints make interceffion unto Thee 
for me, and let the beauty of every one of 
Thy creatures, and the fweet harmony of 
them altogether, glorify Thee out of me for 
ever, and world without end. 



Chap. XXXIV. 

Of the Exercife of the Love and Praife of 

God, 

SF thou doft defire to love and 
praife me with all thy heart, 
with all thy foul, with all thy 
force, and with all the ability 
that doth reft in thee, and defireft to per- 
fevere in the loving of me to the end, 
thou muft of neceffity have fome exercifes 




To the Faithful Soul. 219 

of love, whereby thou mayeft nourifh it, 
kindle it, increafe and maintain it. And 
for this caufe keep thy mind free, with- 
drawn, weaned, and clearly delivered from 
the love of my creatures, and from all in- 
ternal occupation of thy mind or bufmefs 
about them, and from all care and trouble 
of this prefent world, by lifting it up unto 
me with continual, vehement, and fcalding 
fighs, and enflamed prayers, burning with 
all zeal, and by afpiring inceffantly with 
moft fervent defire to come unto me ; that 
is to fay, by defiring to love me moft 
ardently, moft perfe6lly, moft vehemently, 
moft faithfully, and withal continually, yea 
and thirfting alfo to pleafe me in all refpefts, 
to praife me with all zeal, with all fidelity, 
and with all the fufficiency that is in thy 
power, and to fulfil my will abfolutely and 
perfeftly in all things. 

2. To conclude, thou muft always have 
a defire to fee me, who am moft beautiful ; 
to poffefs me, who am moft bleffed ; and 
to be with me, who only am able to grant 
thee happinefs, being the fountain from 
whom all felicity doth proceed, in whom all 



2 20 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

fweetnefs doth confift, and by whom all 
goodnefs muft be granted. For I am of 
all things the fweeteft, the beft, and the 
happieft, yea, true happinefs itfelf. Cleave, 
therefore, always to me, and be never 
feparated from me. Have ever fomewhat 
in thy mind which thou mayeft meditate 
upon, and which may enflame thee with the 
love of me, whereby thou mayeft think of 
my fweetnefs and goodnefs, and, by won- 
dering at it, magnify and praife my name. 
Or elfe, on the contrary part, meditate upon 
fomewhat which may move thee to bewail, 
lament, accufe, and reprehend thyfelf for 
thy vilenefs, bafenefs, ^weaknefs, infirmity, 
inconftancy,. or unthankfulnefs, or elfe that 
may procure thee fufifering, even with 
forrow in thy foul^ from the bottom of thy 
heart, with thofe that be afBi6led and dead, 
to make fupplications unto me for them, 
and for my univerfal Church. Moreover, 
whatfoever thou art to do, or what thing 
foever thou haft to think or confider of, 
think of them firft with me, receive 
counfel touching them firft from me, and 
difcourfe of them firft with me, that thou 



To the Faithful Soul. 221 

mayeft be brought by this cuftom always, 
and at all times (whether thou beeft alone 
or in the company of others), to talk with 
me, and to keep thy heart ftill lifted up 
unto me, either by prayer or elfe by praif- 
ing of my name. 

3. Do whatfoever belongeth to my ho- 
nour ; whatfoever thou knoweft will content 
me or is my will, that thou fhouldft perform 
with an unfpeakable thirft to pleafe me ; and 
with an infatiable defire to honour me, and 
labour thus by all the means thou mayeft, 
and endeavour with thy help, with thy 
counfel, with thy travail, and by all the 
other means that do lie in thy power to ad- 
vance my glory, that my name may be 
praifed both by thyfelf and others, and 
that my will may be fulfilled in all my 
creatures. But in the meantime, notwith- 
ftanding, while thy outward man is thua 
occupied abroad, let thy inward man re- 
main quietly with me, for thou muft in no 
wife give thyfelf fo much to external bufi- 
nefs, as that thy mind fhould be diftra6led 
and run wandering after fundry cogitations, 
and that thou fhouldft draw by this means 



222 An Epijlle of J ejus Chriji 

into thy foul many fond imaginations and 
vain fancies. But rather whilft thy outward 
man is bufied, be thou recolle6led in thy 
fpirit, and gathered clofe together in thy 
foul, that it being united unto me, thou 
mayefb ever internally remain with me. 

4. And when thou haft learned this lef- 
fon, when thou haft accuftomed thyfelf to 
this courfe, no external bufmefs fhall hin- 
der thee no external aft fhall hurt or with- 
hold thee (efpecially if it be a good and 
modeft one) from the mental exercife of 
the love of me. But thou fhalt fpeak unto 
me, or rather be in thy foul peaceably 
united unto me, as well at that time as at 
any other, fo long as thou doft not (as I 
have faid) entangle thy mind with thinking 
of vain and tranfitory things, nor remaineft 
drowned in the cogitations of thofe exter- 
nal bufmeffes which thou pra6liceft in this 
world. For as long as thou haft a will to 
keep thy heart free from the love of all 
creatures, there is no creature that can win 
or withdraw thee from me (although in thy 
outward man thou be troubled with never 
fo many bufmeffes, nor occupied with never 



To the Faithful Soul. 22 



o 



fo many a6lions), if thou imprinteft not the 
forms, the reprefentations, the love or de- 
light of thefe things internally in thy mind. 
5. Wherefore, never complain that exter- 
nal good works are an impediment unto 
thee in thy loving of me, or in the exercife 
of thy love towards me. For thefe things 
do not hinder thee (as thou doft imagine, 
and conceive in thy mind), but thy inordi- 
nate afifeftion, thy want of difcretion, thy 
infirmity, and thy evil inclination, are thbfe 
things which do hinder thee, becaufe thou 
haft not as yet fully mortified them all, for 
thefe do make thee not only outwardly, 
but alfo inwardly, bufied and occupied with 
thinking of my creatures. Moreover, thy 
mind being more and more diftrafted, 
divided, and made more wandering by the 
multitude of thefe conceits, is far from being 
able to cleave unto me, nay, it cannot con- 
tinue conftant or quiet within itfelf. But 
be, notwithftanding, no whit difcouraged, if, 
in refpeft of brotherly charity, or of fhew- 
ing thine obedience, thou art enforced fome- 
times to be occupied and difquieted in 
thine inward man for my fake. For I can 



2 24 ^^ Epijlle of J ejus Chriji 

quickly amend whereinfoever thou haft 
faulted for my fake, and repair it again, 
with fuch advantage and gain unto thee, 
that thou fhalt be afterwards fo much the 
nearer and with greater delight united unto 
me, as thou didft think thyfelf before far- 
ther eftranged from me. 

6. But if thou find thy mind fo much 
diftrafted and alienated from me, as thou 
canft neither recolk6l it again nor yet re- 
turn and lift it up unto me, think not that 
it wandered thus in refpeft of that charity 
which thou didft fhew merely for my fake ; 
but that thine own wicked inclination hath 
polluted thee, and that there was fome- 
what hidden within thee which moved thee 
to this, whereof I was neither the Author 
nor occafion, neither yet was it any way 
procured by my means. Thou wert not 
belike circumfpefl and watchful enough, 
and therefore thou didft fuffer fome human 
infirmity. But remain not long eftranged 
or alienated from me, for I am always 
ready to receive thee again into my favour. 

7. Let thy mind, therefore, be ever occu- 
pied in holy defires, that no moment may 



To the Faithful Soul. 225 

pafs thee wherein thou doft not wound me 
and feek to pierce my heart with the fiery- 
darts of thy inflamed defires. Be affured, 
my Daughter, that thou canft defire nothing 
at my hands in vain. For if thou doft 
defire me thou fhalt find me, but if I do 
withdraw and hide myfelf from thee for a 
time, I do it for thy fake and thy benefit. 
For I cannot choofe but grant my prefence 
to thofe that call upon me and defire me. 
I do ftir up thefe defires in thee, I infpire 
thy heart with thefe motions, and therefore 
be fure that I will alfo hearken to thy peti- 
tions and hear thy prayers. For although 
it (hould fo fall out by the means of my 
providence, as thou fhouldfl remain un- 
heard by me to the hour of thy death, yet 
it is impoffible that I fhould not at all hear 
a devout prayer, but I will even at that in- 
ftant render thee an hundred fold for thy 
long forbearing. Thou fhalt then perceive 
that I will give thee for one petition a thou- 
fand ; thou fhalt then find that thou art 
heard at my hands, when thou canft never 
again lofe the benefit thereof. 

8. But in all thy prayers let this be thy 

Q 



2 26 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

chiefeft petition, to defire at my hands that 
thou mayeft poffefs me. For what is more 
holy, what is more for my glory, than to 
defire me above all things, and before all 
things ? Pray, therefore, always only for a 
naked, a pure, a mofh chafte, a moft perfe6l, 
a moft earneft, a moft watchful, and a moft 
faithful charity towards me, whereby both 
thyfelf and all other reafonable creatures 
may cleave unto me with a refolute mind 
and with fuch a firm intention, as no acci- 
dent whatfoever ftiall be ever able to with- 
draw you from me. 



Chap. XXXV. 

Of the Transformation of Man, 

JF thou wilt obtain me wholly, O 
Soul, thou muft of neceffity 
altogether forfake thyfelf, and 
altogether caft off thyfelf. Thou 
muft fubmit and refign over thyfelf to ex- 
treme poverty, and the want of all temporal 
commodities and confolations, for obtaining 
of me, who am the chiefeft and greateft 




To the Faithf^il Soid, 227 

good. Comfort thyfelf, therefore, and be 
not difmayed, though thou be deprived 
of all human confolation, and though thou 
want all human friendfhip, favour, and fuc- 
cour whatfoever. 

2. Confider how a ftout foldier, not re- 
garding his friends, his country, his wife, 
his children, his quiet reft, and his commo- 
dity at home, doth forfake them all, and 
being a ftranger in a foreign land, doth 
there daily offer his life to dangerous la- 
bours, to painful journeys, to continual 
watching, and to fundry miferies and perils, 
that he may obtain riches and win honour. 
In this fort muft thou, forfaking all things, 
be fpoiled and made poor, and deprived of 
all comfort, and of all my creatures what- 
foever, that nothing may remain in thee 
wherein thou mayeft find any quiet, or that 
thou mayeft poffefs but me only. Moreover, 
thou muft exclude and banifh from thyfelf 
the forms, impreffions, and memory of all 
things, and thou muft cleanfe and purge thy 
mind of them all, and carry about with 
thee the image of me only imprinted in 
thy heart, wherefoever thou becomeft, and 



228 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrift 

howfoever thou art, either alone by thyfelf 
or in company of others. 

3. Thou muft alfo, whether thou eateft 
or drinkeft, fleepeft or wakeft, fpeakeft or 
be filent, always look into me, as a pure 
glafs and moft perfe6l pattern for thee to 
imitate, that thou mayeft direft thy courfe 
of life and transform thyfelf according to 
the virtues and manner of my life. If 
thou eateft, dip every morfel in my wounds. 
If thou drinkeft, take the warm blood out 
of my wounds, which will breathe charity 
into thee. If thou fpeakeft, look upon me 
who heareth thy words, and beware that 
thou fpeakeft nothing that is uncomely or 
may difpleafe me. If thou holdeft thy 
peace, hearken unto me who do fpeak to 
thee, and fearch out with all diligence and 
care what is my perfeft will and good plea- 
fure. If thou fleepeft, lean and repofe 
thyfelf upon my heart, applying thy mouth 
to the gaping wound of my facred heart, 
and fuck my grace thereby into thy fpirit, 
and breathe again unto me, by fending a 
fweet fmelling facrifice out of it, the mar- 
row and precious treafure of thy heart. 



To the Faithful Soul. 229 

4. To be fhort, wherefoever thou be, 
govern and direft thyfelf according to that 
moft notable, moft worthy, and moft per- 
fect pattern, which thou beholdeft in the 
courfe of my hfe. Look into and defire 
earneftly, with all zeal and affeflion, to imi- 
tate my moft modeft and moft lowly 
humility, my moft courteous affability, my 
moft fweet meeknefs, my moft enduring 
patience, my moft pure chaftity, my moft 
abundant piety, my moft faithful provi- 
dence, my moft merciful compaffion, and 
my moft fervent-burning, exceeding and 
incomprehenfible charity. Imprint the 
lively image of thefe things in thy foul, 
fill thy mind wholly with it, and by the 
means thereof banifti altogether from thy 
mind all the forms and imaginations of all 
other things w^hatfoever. I will not have 
thee to be without the impreffion or the 
reprefentation of fomething in thy heart, 
neither yet will I have thee feek before 
thy time to fly higher than this. 

5. Wherefore reft thou quietly in the 
mean fpace, in beholding the image of my 
humanity and Paffion, until I do raife thee 



230 Ail Epiftle of Jefus Chrijl 

up to a higher dignity, where thou fhalt not 
feel thefe motions, but be wholly and 
clearly delivered from any impreffion or 
imagination, and be free from all exercife 
and aftion, and remain in all peace and 
quietnefs, having clean forfaken thyfelf 
and thine own appetite. In the meantime, 
therefore, meditate how I am always pre- 
fent with thee, and how I do look and 
pierce into the clofeft corners of thy 
foul, and into the deepeft fecrets of thy 
heart, and do not only meditate upon it, 
but learn alfo to have a fenfible feeling of 
my prefence, whereby I do ahvays behold 
thee, always mark thee, always look into 
thee, and always both fully know thee and 
perfe6lly underftand thy greateft fecrets. 

6. Learn to conceive how I am without 
all limitation, not poffible to be circum- 
fcribed within any bounds ; how I am an 
unchangeable, an eternal, an unfpeakable, 
and an incomprehenfible light ; how I am 
beft worthy to be beloved ; how I only de- 
ferve to be defired ; and how I am wholly 
pure and fmcere, not ftained with the leafb 
evil or fmalleft imperfection. Likewife, 



To the Faithfttl Soul. 231 

how I am wholly good, in whom there is 
nothing but it is to be beloved, and able to 
delight all that feek me ; how I am wholly 
moft faithful, wholly moft merciful, and 
always ready moft abundantly to communi- 
cate myfelf with the children of men. To 
conclude, learn to know how I am a moft 
conftant and faithful lover, a moft fweet 
comforter, a moft mighty prote6lor, and a 
moft rich and bountiful rewarder of all 
thofe that bear me good will, of all thofe 
that love me, and of all thofe that hope in 
me, and how I am able to bring more de- 
light unto their fouls, than all other things 
that can be defired. For I never procure 
loathefomenefs in them, but I fatisfy all 
their defires, and by fatisfying them I 
daily more and more increafe their defires 
in them. Let this perfe6l image of me 
wholly poffefs thy mind, and imprint it fo 
deeply therein that thou mayeft not con- 
fent in thy will to the meditation of any 
other fancies, but prefently banifh them 
from thee as foon as they begin to enter 
into thee. 

7. Take heed that thou do not receive 



232 An Epijile of Jefus Ch7HJl 

them within thy foul, but being free from 
them, remain united to me only, in all in- 
ternal folitarinefs, in all internal quietnefs, 
and in all internal peace and tranquillity, 
waiting for me continually, moft defiroufly, 
and without ceafmg, that thou mayeft re- 
pofe thyfelf in all things upon me, that thou 
mayeft follow me, and that thou mayeft 
fubmit thyfelf unto any thing whatfoever 
that I will have thee either to do or fufifer, 
yea, unto whatfoever I will have done in 
thee, or with thee. Thou oughteft fo clearly 
to renounce thyfelf, that is, all love of thy- 
felf, and all proper inclination to follow 
thine own will, as that nothing may be able 
to move thy reafonable and intelleftual foul, 
being now, as it were, quite alienated and 
feparated from thy body. And that it may 
feem all one unto her, whether her ex- 
ternal or fenfible man be praifed or dif- 
commended, be affiifted or comforted, and 
that fhe may look upon him, as it were, 
afar off, being clean divided from him, and 
wholly united and joined unto me. 

8. To obtain this feparation of thyfelf 
from the following of thine own appetite, 



To the Faithful Soul. 233 

and the love of any creature, thou muft of 
neceffity, as I warned thee before, have 
great watch over thyfelf, and ftraightly 
obferve by what means thou mayeft foon- 
eft find out and difcern what Heth hidden 
in thy fecret thoughts, what moveth thee, 
what draweth thee, what entice th thee, what 
poffeffeth thee, what reigneth in thee ; 
to conclude, what thou loveft, or inclineft 
thyfelf unto, whether it be thyfelf, or any 
other creature, or me. And thou muft 
thruft prefently out of thy mind whatfoever 
thou findefl there, if it be not myfelf, or 
anything whereof I am not the caufe ; for 
thou art then become fubje6l to that thing 
which poffeffeth thee, when it hath gotten a 
full intereft and propriety in thee. 

9. And I, for mine own part, will never 
confent to be beloved with a companion, 
but I look for thy whole love, and I defire 
to remain alone peaceably in thee. There- 
fore, except thou feekefl me only, thou 
fhalt never perfe6lly find me, and if thou 
wilt enjoy me, banifh all creatures from 
thee, fufifer no divifion, no impediment, no 
feparation to remain between thee and me. 



2 34 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

Let all creatures be banifhed from thee, but 
only fuch as are for thy mere and neceffary 
ufe ; let them have no intereft or place in 
thee ; let them not poffefs thy heart, that 
thou mayeft keep thyfelf free and pure 
unto me from them all, and mayeft wholly 
fubmit thyfelf unto me, and be ready to be 
difpofed in all fuch forts as it fhall be my 
pleafure. 

10. Whatfoever fhall happen, it is enough 
for thee that thou knoweft it, and findeft 
that it hath happened. Trouble thyfelf no 
farther with thinking of it, neither fuffer it 
to ftay within thee, or to leave any memory 
or impreffion thereof in thy foul. But rely 
upon me, and commit all thy cares unto 
me ; pafs and fly over the multitude, the 
variety, and the mutability of thefe cogita- 
tions, and never fix or fettle thy heart but 
in me only. Seek, therefore, me only, and 
no more but me in all things, which am one 
in all and all in all, and wait patiently with 
long-fuffering till thou findeft me, yea, be 
content to ftay and wait for me again and 
again, and never be weary of waiting till 
thou findeft me, repofing thyfelf upon my 



To the Faithful SotiL 235 

goodnefs, and upon my moft wife provi- 
dence, full of all love towards thee, with a 
ftrong faith and an affured truft therein. 
When I ftay my coming, expe£l me pa- 
tiently, for I will come at the laft w^ithout 
doubt. Be free and altogether weaned in 
this fort, O Soul, from all thine own defire ; 
be feparated wholly from all love and de- 
lights in creatures ; be alienated from all 
fancies and imaginations, and cleave wholly 
unto me in fimplicity and nakednefs of 
heart. Offer thyfelf to be poffeffed by me, 
and forfake clean thine own will, that thou 
may eft rejoice with me in all eternity, 
where there are neither things paft nor 
things to come, but all things prefent. 

II. Afpire always, and earneftly defire 
to obtain this even now, and forfake both 
thyfelf and all other things, that is, thy 
body and fenfuality, and have thine eye fo 
fixed upon eternity in this prefent world 
as if thou w^ert quite feparated from it, and 
clearly delivered out of it, beholding all the 
things in this world afar off, as thofe things 
which thou haft wholly forfaken, and from 
which thou haft clearly weaned thyfelf. 



236 An Epijlle of Jefics Chrijl 

Think that thou art alone with me, and 
that I am with thee, and as if there were 
no other creature prefent with thee. What- 
foever thou feeleft befides me, make no 
account of it, becaufe it is in truth nothing 
worth being without me, and no creature 
fhall hurt thee as long as thou receive not 
within thy heart the fancies and imagina- 
tions of any thing, nor yet feel any cares or 
affe6lions within thy foul. 



The Conclusion. 

DELIVER thefe exhortations 
unto thee, as to my Daughter 
and Spoufe, O Soul, and as a 
rule to instru6l thee how thou 
fhouldft put off the old man, and walk 
hereafter in newnefs of fpirit, and how 
thou fhouldft daily bend and endeavour 
thyfelf, with all thy force, to grow to more 
perfe6lion. Therefore, as often as, by read- 
ing over thefe things, thou findeft that thou 
haft not obferved all in fuch fort as I have 




To the Faithful SouL 237 

commanded thee, or that thou haft faulted 
in fome little part thereof, fo often ftill re- 
new thy good intention, by ftirring up a 
new fervour of zeal in thee. And although 
I give thee thefe to read, yet I defire, not- 
withftanding, that the ears of thy heart 
fhould always be open to my infpirations, 
whereby thou mayeft not only outwardly 
read them, but inwardly hear thefe leffons 
from me. 

13. And the reafon why I would have 
thefe my written infpirations laid before 
thine eyes, is becaufe thou art for the 
moft part delighted with vain letters and 
meffages from thy friends, which do pro- 
cure in thy heart nothing but diftraftion, 
an unfavoury kind of difquiet, and a 
perilous kind of darknefs. Therefore, when 
thou haft contemned thefe vanities, and 
forfaken them quite, I have given thee 
thefe wholefome inftru6lions, that thou 
mighteft have fome good thing for me to 
read, and to occupy thy mind withal. And 
that thou mighteft by the confideration of 
them, and for the love of me, defpife all 
other things which feek to pollute thy 



238 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

heart. And the more that I, who am thy 
Spoufe, and gave thee thefe leffons, O Soul, 
ought to be beloved, the more acceptable 
ought this inftruftion to be unto thee, which 
proceeded from me, that am not only 
worthy to be beloved, but moft worthy of 
all things to be beloved, and deferve above 
all things moft to be defired, yea, and ought 
before all things moft to pleafe and delight 
thee. 

14. I would have thee alfo the more 
faithfully to obferve thefe precepts, feeing 
all thefe things which I have delivered unto 
thee are not to delight a carnal and worldly 
heart but a fpiritual, and fuch an one as is 
devout towards me, and feeing they do not 
pleafe the ears with picked phrafes and 
trifling words, but they feed the loving foul 
with truth and wholefome counfel. It re- 
maineth only now to warn thee, that thou 
be watchful and diligent, for I ftand at the 
door of thy heart and knock. Open thy 
heart, therefore, unto me, O, my Sifter, O my 
Spoufe, give me thy heart, and defire me 
only, feeing I do fo much defire thee. But 
affure thyfelf of this one thing, thou canft 



To the Faithful Soul, 239 

never receive me as long as thou loveft any 
thing befides me. Thou canft never have 
me as long as thou haft any thing of thy- 
felf without me. Thou canft never enjoy 
me as long as thou poffeffeft thyfelf. Go, 
therefore, out of thyfelf, and forfake thyfelf, 
that I only may poffefs thee, and that thou 
only mayeft poffefs me. This is a fhort 
time which is prefent, but that which fol- 
loweth is without all limitation of time 
and eternal, without any end. 

15. Be watchful, therefore, my Daughter. 
I do once again exhort thee, receive me for 
thy husband, O Soul,0 Daughter, O Spoufe, 
and fhew thyfelf in all purity, without all 
hypocrify or diffimulation, a fpoufe worthy 
of me. Love me, who am thy Lord and 
Redeemer, think of me, take heed to thy- 
felf, have confideration of thine own eftate. 
Cleave unto me, and perfevere with me to 
the end. Live happily henceforth in me, 
and fo I bid thee farewell. 



240 An Epiftle of Jefus Chrijl 



THE INSTRUCTIONS: 

That follow are very fit and profitable for all 
Men, Tliey are divided into two rules^ 
a7td may either be called Rules of Direc- 
tion for Ma^is Life, or elfe the Fraternity 
of the Difciples of Chrifi, that is to fay, 
of fuch as defere to imitate the life of 
Chrifi, a7id feek to live after the rule of 
the Gofpel, and do fiudy with all their 
endeavour to attain to the Perfe6lion of 
Charity, 

pESUS CHRIST, who was made 
man for your fakes, did preach 
unto the world in times paft, 
and did deliver them one rule of 
life by my Gofpel, for the falvation of them 
all ; he that believeth it can never err, and 
he that obferveth it can never perifh. For 
it only is fufficient alone for the falvation 
of man's foul, being well obferved, and it 
inftru6leth a man fully in all virtue and 
perfection. 




To the Faithful Soul. 241 

2. Wherefore, if men did live after that 
rule, there were no need of the rules of 
Monks, there were no need of any fraterni- 
ties, or affociations, and companies of men 
that live under one rule and order, there 
were no need of any Canons whatfoever, 
feeing that they which did live purely and 
fmcerely, after the rules of my Gofpel, 
needed no other thing to inftruft them in 
all perfe6lion. But after that men forfook 
the rule of my Gofpel, and every man did 
only think upon his own proper commodity 
according to the nature of men, it came 
then to pafs, not without my counfel 
and the dire6lion of my fpirit, that many 
of my faints did devife fundry means 
whereby they might root out of men's 
minds the love of the world and of them- 
felves, which made them quite forfake me, 
and grow cold in the zeal of my Gofpel 
and my honour, and befides that they might 
reftore unto the world a perfe6l courfe of 
life, how to obferve my Gofpel and com- 
mandments. 

3. Therefore, many of them have fet 
down certain rules how to keep under and 

R 



242 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrift 

cut off thofe paffions whereby any occafion 
is taken to break the law of my Gofpel, 
and have commanded that thofe things 
fhould be ftraitly obferved which do ftir 
up, purify, and ftrengthen the fpirit in all 
virtue and goodnefs. For they know that 
the fpirit could never be ftrong, and have 
the upper hand of the flefh, but by punifh- 
ing it, and by flying all occafions of evil. 
For when the fpirit is ftrengthened there 
will be always in you a charter, a more 
fervent, and a more conftant love or devo- 
tion to keep my commandments. And it 
is evident that thefe holy fervants of mine, 
for this caufe had a will to appoint all things 
in fuch fort as might be for the furtherance 
of men in following the courfe of my 
Gofpel, and would not permit the fmalleft 
tittle that might be againft the rule thereof. 
4. It appeareth manifeftly alfo that fome ^ 
which lived after them added new conftitu- 
tions and many ceremonies to thefe rules, 
and do more feverely and fharply punifh 
men for their tranfgreffion of thefe cere- 
monies than of my Gofpel, which is a very 
prepofterous courfe, and contrary to all 



To the Faithful Soul. 243 

good order. For a man is reprehended 
and puniflied if he fpeak out of time, if he 
fmg out of tune, or if he offend in any 
of thefe ceremonies. But I had rather 
(although I allow of thefe) that there 
fhould not be fmaller but much greater 
care had of Evangelical precepts than of 
thefe ceremonies, and that there fhould be 
a fharper cenfure againft thofe that break my 
commandment than againft fuch as offend 
in thefe ceremonies. As for example, I 
would not have them go unpunifhed which 
fwear by my name, which backbite any 
body, which hate their neighbours, or do 
any fuch thing as my Gofpel doth forbid. 
For there muft needs be appointed fharper 
difcipline, and there muft always be feverer 
laws ordained and appointed to punifh 
thofe which do break my commandments ; 
and for the obfervation whereof, the ancient 
fathers in times heretofore did prefcribe 
fundry rules. But what fhall I fay ? I fee 
that you in thefe days do neither obferve 
my Gofpel nor yet the rules of the ancient 
fathers. You boaft of my words in your 
mouth, and of my Gofpel in your common 



244 ^^ Epijile of J ejus Chrijl 

talk, but it appeareth manifeftly how far I 
am from your heart, feeing you do not love 
me nor my commandments. 

5. Return you, therefore, now (although 
it be late) who have walked fo long in 
crooked paths with your hearts unto me ; 
do penance, and believe in my Gofpel, and 
do not only believe whatfoever my Gofpel 
teacheth, but by believing it, and loving it, 
do whatfoever it commandeth. If you will 
be Chriftians, if you will be my Difciples, 
imitate me, learn of me, becaufe I am weak 
and humble of heart ; walk ye as I have 
walked. Moreover, if you will be Monks, 
if you will be Priefts, or if you will be 
Religious men, do thofe things which are of 
the fpirit, and mortify by the fpirit the 
Avorks of the flefh. If you be (as you fay) 
Evangelical, and followers of my Gofpel, do 
thofe things which my Gofpel doth com- 
mand you ; how long will you fay unto me, 
Lord, Lord, and will not do thofe things 
which I fay ? Do thofe things which I 
command you, and fhew yourfelves to be 
my friends, not in words only, but in 
deed and in truth, for he that heareth 



To the Faithful Soul. 245 

my words, he that hath my commandments 
and doeth them, this is he that loveth me. 

6. And for ftirring up again that fervent 
zeal which hath been heretofore in men's 
minds, and for renewing the obfervance of 
my Gofpel, which is almoft worn out of 
ufe, I deHver now unto thofe who are my 
friends, and devoutly afifefted towards me, 
two very ihort rules. Whereof the one is 
very fit for fuch as be lefs perfe6l, and but 
new beginners in following of my fervice ; 
and the other for fuch as are more perfeft, 
and defire with all earneftnefs to attain to a 
moft chafte love of me. Wherein there is 
taught no heap of ceremonies, or multitude 
of prayers, but a reformation of the con- 
fcience and inward man, and a devotion of 
the mind. There is nothing entreated of 
touching the colour or fafhion of garments, 
but the defires and endeavours of men are 
ftirred up to the honouring and following 
of Evangelical obedience. And there is 
one kind of fraternity made and fet down 
in this place, whereby the minds of many 
may be united in one, and the intents of all 
fuch agree in one, as do love and ferve me. 



246 An Epijile of J ejus Chrijl 

No man is here of neceffity bound to vow 
the obfervance of thofe things (although 
that avow doth very much adorn, ftrengthen, 
and enrich a good will), neither yet doth it 
make a man, if men offend therein, farther 
guilty of a fault than the tranfgreffion of 
my law doth pronounce him. 

7. But I do give a Law to all thofe that 
defire to ferve me, agreeable to every man's 
ability, and I do temper it in fuch fort as 
every man, being affifted by my grace, may 
keep and fulfil it. For my will is that all 
men fhould be faved, and I have furthered 
them by my help unto it, fo far as it was 
my good will and pleafure. And in this 
refpefl I do often forbear fmners, and wink 
at their infirmities that are weak, left I 
fhould break afunder a broken reed, or 
fhould extinguifh or altogether put out 
fmoking wood. And therefore, being de- 
firous to gather together unto me all thofe 
that ferve me, I have divided them into two 
kinds. In the firft, I place thofe that be 
weak and new beginners ; and in the fecond, 
thofe that be more perfe6l and long-prac- 
tifed in my fervice ; and I have fet down 



To the Faithful SouL 247 

fuch precepts for them both as I have 
chofen out of my Gofpel, and are moft 
agreeable to their ftate and vocation. 



An Instruction or 

Rule for fuck as be Weak and Imperfe£ly and 
but New Beginners in my Service, 

fHOSOEVER will vow himfelf to 
be one of my foldiers, and to 
fight in my warfare, and give 
me his promife in that behalf, 
if he cannot at the beginning beware of all 
fins, yet let him fpecially beware of mortal 
fins. If thou, therefore, defirefl to be ac- 
counted in the number of my faithful fer- 
vants, beware of fin, and cut off and fly all 
occafions of finning. Efchew evil, and do 
good, for I will never enter into a wicked 
and malicious foul, neither will I dwell in 
a body fubje6l to fin. 

2. Never fpare thy life or temporal 
goods, if it may either deliver or preferve 
thy neighbour's foul from mortal fin. For 
thou oughteft to efteem more any foul 




248 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

whatfoever (for the falvation whereof I 
gave my life) than thy body or temporal 
goods, and I ought to be more precious 
in thine eyes, for whofe honour thou doeft 
it, than thy corporal or temporal life. 
Never give thy confent, therefore, to any 
fm, but fpecially to mortal fm, whether it 
be in thyfelf or another. Whatfoever thou 
wouldft not have done unto thyfelf do not 
unto another. Ufe no fraud, pra6life no de- 
ceit, do no injury. And if thefe things be 
offered thee, bear them with filence for my 
fake, or at the leaft, complain no otherwife of 
them than juftly, and after a juft and right- 
ful manner. For I have commanded my fer- 
vants to profecute that juftly which is juft. 
3. Never requite evil with evil, nor re- 
proach with reproach, never repay wrong 
with wrong, but fuffer all for the love of 
me, who, when I was railed on, did not rail 
again ; when I fufifered, did not threaten 
mine enemies, but did willingly fubmit my- 
felf to an unjuft fentence. Do thou, there- 
fore, in like fort, if thine enemy hunger, 
feed him ; if he thirft, give him to drink. 
Thou oughteft to love thine enemy, and to 



To the Faithful Soul. 249 

do good to thofe that hate thee, that thou 
mayeft be the fon of the Father that is in 
heaven, who doeth good not only to thofe 
who are good, but to the evil alfo. Be 
merciful as thy Father in heaven is merci- 
ful ; give alms to thy neighbour, if thou haft 
ability, or beftow daily at the leaft one 
benefit or other upon him, or fome good 
turn, or fome fervice, or fome work of 
mercy, or fome deed of charity. 

4. And thou oughteft faithfully to exer- 
cife thyfelf in this exercife, in taking of 
compaffion, or fuccouring of thy neighbour. 
For whofoever is merciful towards another 
fhall obtain mercy at my hands, and who- 
foever fhall do anything to the leafh of my 
fervants, whether it be good or evil, I will 
account it as done unto myfelf If thou 
liveft according to the flefh thou fhalt die, 
but if thou dofb mortify the works of the 
flefh with the fpirit thou fhalt live. Mortify, 
therefore, thy defires, thy fenfes, and thy 
members here upon earth, that thou mayefl 
not do whatfoever thy carnal appetite doth 
provoke thee unto. Thou fhouldft every day, 
at the leaft, no lefs than once withdraw, 



250 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

reftrain, and deny thy confent for my 
fake, to fomething which thou defireft or 
Avherein thou dehghteft. And if there hap- 
pen nothing that day wherein thou mayeft 
bridle thine affe6lion in this fort, yet do it 
for the love of me as occafion is offered, in 
barring thyfelf from having, feeling, feeing, 
or hearing fomewhat which thou much de- 
fireft, or to which thy concupifcence and 
the curiofity of thy nature doth move thee. 
And although there is no other fruit to be 
reaped by it, yet deny thine own will in 
this point, and kill this defire in thee for 
the love of me. Thou mufl never fwear, 
but being enforced by lawful authority for 
a matter of truth before a Judge ; thou muft 
never fpeak of my name in vain, or unpro- 
fitably, or make a lie at any time. 

5. Either read or hear Mafs every day 
if thy ftate or office will permit thee, and 
do it in the memory and honour of my 
charity, and of all my benefits which I have 
heretofore moft abundantly and willingly 
poured upon men, and do daily from time to 
time beftow upon them. But if thou canft 
not hear Mafs, fay with the fame intention 



To the Faithful Soul. 251 

the prayer which I taught my Difciples, 
and the falutation of the Angel to my blef- 
fed Mother, and offer me up to my Father 
in thy heart, and with me all thofe good 
works which I and my fervants either do 
or have done for thee, and the univerfal 
Church. 

6. Thou oughteft every month once at 
the leaft facramentally to confefs thy fms, 
and to receive the Sacrament of my bleffed 
Body, at the feaft of my Nativity, and 
Refurre6lion, at Pentecoft alfo, and at the 
Affumption of my Mother, and at the feaft 
of All-Saints, except living under fome vow 
or in fome Monaftery, thou be reftrained 
there by the rule of thy life to do the fame. 
Thou oughteft to adore me every day early 
in the morning, being One God in Trinity 
of Perfons, and to recommend thyfelf to 
my proteftion, and to pray that I would 
defend thee, and all the world from fm. 
He that is fo fimple as he cannot perform 
this, let him read with a devout intention a 
Pater nojler and an Ave Maria, 

7. When thou haft no better mental ex- 
ercifes, by internal meditation and by fome- 



252 An Epiftle of ye/us Chrijl 

what that may kindle a more fervent zeal in 
thee, fay every day in the honour of my Paf- 
fion and my Wounds, five Pater nojlers and 
fo many Ave Marias. Moreover, fay every 
week in the veneration and honour of my 
Mother a hundred and fifty Ave M arias y 
that is, three Rofaries, every Rofary con- 
taining in itfelf fifty. 

8. Make alfo every day in the veneration 
and honour of the Sacrament of my bleffed 
Body, two low curtfies, reverences, or adora- 
tions. One to give me thanks for that charity 
and benefits which I fhewed towards thee in 
my Incarnation, Death and Paffion, and in 
the inftitution of this Bleffed Sacrament. 
Another to give me as much honour as 
lieth in thee, in recompenfe of that re- 
proach which I fufifered at their hands that 
receive my precious Body unworthily, and 
do handle it impurely. Thou muft every 
day make two other adorations or curtfies, 
one to obtain the fruit which I, dying, pro- 
cured for all men by my Paffion, and by 
the eff"ufion of my blood and lofs of my 
life, and which I have a will that all men 
fhould be partakers of. 



To the Faithful SotiL 253 

9. Thou muft in this alfo pray that I 
may pour my grace fo into the heart of 
every man, as they may receive the fame 
virtue, efficacy, and fruit of my Paffion, 
which, being upon the Crofs and fufifering 
there, I wrought for them, and in fuch 
abundant fort as I by my death did offer it 
unto them. Thou muft make another kind 
of curtfey, or fome kind of humiHation of 
thyfelf in my prefence, to praife me and 
give me thanks for the effufion of my 
Blood, and for all my mercies which I have 
at any time poured out, both upon the good 
and bad ; and thou muft pray for their con- 
verfion who are in damnable fins, and for 
the reformation of the Church ; they that 
cannot conceive thus much, let them fay 
with a devout intention, two Pater nojlers 
and two Ave Marias. 

10. Thou muft faft every Friday, if in- 
firmity, weaknefs, labour, neceffity, travail, 
age, or fome other reafonable occafion do 
not let or hinder thee. Or if it like thee 
better, thou mayeft eat twice that' day, fo 
that it be temperately and very fparingly, 
and that thou ufeft no fodden meat at fup- 



2 54 ^^^ Epijlle of JefiLS Chriji 

per, whereby thou mayeft punifh thy flefh, 
at the leaft a little, and bring thyfelf to 
bewail the bitternefs of my Death and Paf- 
fion. Learn diligently to know the com- 
mandments of my Gofpe land the precepts 
of my Church, and when thou haft learned 
them do not break them, for the love of 
any earthly thing whatfoever. 



Another Instruction 

Or Rule for fuch as, with a more fervent 
Zeal and Spirit, do earnejlly Labour to 
attain to Perfection, 

HAVE placed thofe in this 
fecond divifion which, forget- 
ting clean all things that are 
paft, defire ever to come to a 
better and more perfe6l courfe ; and there- 
fore this rule fhall be for fuch as, feeking to 
attain to true perfection, do covet with a 
longing mind to be made one with me, and 
wholly united unto me. 

2. Wherefore, whofoever thou be that 
defireft to ferve me with thy whole heart, 




To the Faithful Soul, 255 

and to pleafe me in all things, thou muft 
not with thy certain knowledge and de- 
liberate judgment offend in any fm, al- 
though it be but venial ; and thou muft 
defire inftantly at my hands, with moft 
humble and devout prayers, that I may 
keep and preferve thee from all kind of fm. 
Thou muft be holy as I am holy ; thou 
muft be perfe6l as I am perfe6l ; thou muft 
be holy, I fay, in my fight, and when thou 
art fo, thou muft remember that it is not of 
thyfelf but it proceedeth from me. Thou 
muft not think otherwife of thyfelf than of 
a moft wicked fmner, that had infinite 
times deferved eternal damnation, if my 
moft benevolent and ever moft ready 
mercy had not been always at hand to 
preferve and deliver thee from it. 

3. Walk in that vocation whereunto thou 
art called, and live according to the ftate 
and rule of thy vocation. Obferve dili- 
gently and perform faithfully whatfoever 
my holy Scripture commandeth thee, and 
whatfoever thou promifeft with thy mouth 
unto me. It is alfo thy duty, not only to 
enquire after my commandments, but to 



256 An Epijlle of Jefits Chrijl 

feek to know my pleafure in all things, and 
to afk my counfel, and even with a certain 
earneft defire to follow and fulfil them 
both. 

4. Lead a folitary life, being feparated 
from all unneceffary bufmeffes, from fami- 
liarity, and difcourfes with men, and give 
thyfelf to filence, folitarinefs, and prayer, as 
much as thy ftate will permit thee. My 
Apoftle faith that the fervant of God ought 
not to be contentious ; contend thou not 
therefore in words. Abftain alfo from 
every idle word, but chiefly from all carnal 
and back-biting fpeeches ; never fpeak any- 
thing, nor yet hear any thing, of thofe which 
be abfent but that which is good. And 
although that it may fometime be done 
with a good intention to fpeak evil of him 
that is abfent, yet never confent to fpeak 
or to hear evil of- him, except the matter 
which is fpoken of be moft certain and 
apparent. And yet, if thou doft exceed in 
this, thou mufl not go away unpunifhed, 
but thou muft enjoin fome penance and 
punifhment to thyfelf for thine offence. 

5. Obferve fobriety in meat and drink, 



To the Faithfitl Soul. 257 

and ufe all my creatures with temperance, 
that thou mayeft be made poor in fpirit 
with the love of me, delighting in no 
worldly thing whatfoever, but as a ftranger 
and wayfaring man. Look upon all things 
in this world with a pure and free heart, 
not fubje6l any way unto them, but as it 
were paffmg lightly by them, not having 
any defire to remain with them. 

6. Accuftom thyfelf to fhew all humility, 
meeknefs, benignity, and piety towards 
thy neighbours, remembering and behold- 
ing me in every man, and frame thyfelf to 
deal fo with them, as thou wouldft deal 
with me. For in truth I take any thing 
whatfoever thou doft to thy neighbour as 
done unto myfelf 

7. Thou oughteft to judge no man, nor 
yet intrude thyfelf to difpute, or to give 
thy judgment of other men's matters and 
confciences, whatfoever they be ; except 
thou art appointed a judge by me, and fo 
by the virtue of thine office art to give thy 
judgment therein. And yet, notwithftand- 
ing, if thou fhalt fee any man offend, and 
doft hope to do him fome good by thine 

S 



258 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijt 

admonition (or at the leaft haft no miftruft 
to make him commit more grievous fms by 
thy reprehenfion) thou mayeft courteoufly 
admonifh him who doth fin, earneftly and 
gently entreating him, that he would be 
mindful of his own falvation and amend his 
fault. But if he feek to defend himfelf, and 
obftinately contend with thee in maintain- 
ing of his doing, do not thou difpute with 
him, except thou have hope by little and 
little to bring him to a better courfe ; neither 
yet labour to defend thine own fpeech when 
it is to no purpofe, but give him place 
humbly, without any anger and with all 
meeknefs and quietnefs. 

8. Likewife, if thou art reprehended at 
any time without a caufe, thou mayeft, if 
thou wilt, gently and mildly give an ac- 
count of thy dealing, but thou fhalt do 
better (except any fcandal might arife 
thereby) if thou doft humbly afk pardon, 
and without any excufing of thyfelf pro- 
mife amendment (as far as thou mayeft law- 
fully do without offending of me) and withal 
thou mayeft give him thanks to fhew thy 
charity who did in this fort admonifh thee. 



To the Faithful Soul. 259 

9. I have heretofore warned men in my 
Gofpel, that if any man will come after me 
he mufb deny himfelf For as in the deny- 
ing of a man's felf the whole perfe6lion of 
a man's life confifteth, fo by the love of a 
man's felf he cometh ever to ruin and de- 
ftru6lion. Labour, therefore, by all the 
means that thou mayeft, for the utter deny- 
ing of thyfelf, and let it be thy principal 
ftudy how to mortify thine own will in thee. 
Thou muft fo difpofe of all thine own 
matters as thou mayeft be ready either to 
do or omit things, in fuch fort as thou fhalt 
be counfelled and advifed by fome good 
man, or one that feareth God, if thou haft 
not a fpiritual governor. 

10. Truft not thine own judgment in any 
thing. Do nothing of thine own head, 
chiefly in doubtful things where there may 
be danger. And therefore thou muft not 
procure for thyfelf any thing in feeking to 
pleafe thine own appetite (except fuch 
things only as do manifeftly appear with- 
out all doubt to be acceptable unto me), but 
thou muft rather refpeft the profit of many, 
and thou muft ever prefer before all things 



26o An Epiftle of Jefus Chrijl 

my honour, and commit thyfelf wholly to 
my Providence. I will take care of thee, I 
will take the charge upon myfelf to pro- 
vide for thee ; and let this be thine only 
fhudy, to behave thyfelf in fuch fort as 
thou do nothing to the derogation of my 
honour, and the refifting of my good 
pleafure. 

II. But to the end that thy work maybe 
more pleafmg unto me, by the denying of 
thyfelf (if thou liveft not in the monaftic 
courfe of life) thou mayeft for the under- 
taking and performance of this courfe pro- 
mife thy obedience herein to a Prieft or 
fome other man that feareth me ; neither 
ought the infelicity of this prefent age, nor 
the impiety of wicked men, which do flander 
and impugn vows and promifes made unto 
God, yea even fuch as are moft profitable 
for man's falvation, either move or dif- 
courage thee any whit. But thou oughteft 
to be the rather induced by this to rely 
thyfelf upon my mercy, and firmly to be- 
lieve that I, who have given thee an afpira- 
tion to have a will to do well, and to make 
a holy vow, will alfo give thee power and 



To the Faithful Soul. 261 

ability to fulfil it. For neither of them 
proceed from thyfelf, but it cometh from 
my grace both to have a will to do well, 
and to do well indeed, and both to promife 
and perform thofe things which are profit- 
able for thy falvation. 

12. Choofe a place that is fecret, and 
defire to live hid and unknown, and difclofe 
not thy counfels to every body, but to him 
only who is the direftor and guide of thy 
confcience. Be not careful or defirous to 
pleafe men, feek not for their commenda- 
tion, or to have a name amongft them, 
neither yet ftudy to do any thing whereby 
thou mayeft obtain a great opinion, praife, 
or admiration amongft them, feeing that all 
things are proper to me only, to which any 
praife or commendation is due. But en- 
deavour rather fo to bridle thine affeftions 
as that thou mayeft, in all fimplicity and 
purity of heart, think worfe and more 
bafely of thyfelf than of any other, and 
be defirous that other men fhould conceive 
the like opinion of thee. So as whatfoever 
thou doft, whether it be a thing worthy 
of commendation, or elfe fuch a thing as 



262 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

may make thee to be contemned and re- 
proached of others, be no more moved 
with it (if it be not fm) either inwardly in 
thy mind, or outwardly in thy fhew, by 
entering into any paffion, than thou 
wouldfb be if any other man had done the 
fame. 

13. Boaft nothing- of thyfelf, glory 
nothing in thyfelf, challenge and afcribe 
nothing to thyfelf, by the means of my 
gifts, attribute no more to thyfelf for any 
virtue that is in thee, or for any good works 
that are done by thy means, than thou 
wouldft do to a hatchet or any other inftru- 
ment, which is nothing at all in itfelf, and 
is able to do nothing by itfelf, but if any 
thing be done by it, it is by the will of the 
Artificer who worketh with it, and who 
could do the fame by another inftrument 
if it pleafed him. For in that it is come to 
be an inftrument, and that it hath any 
thing in itfelf whereby it may now be em- 
ployed to fome ufe, it hath not this ability 
of itfelf, nor from any other, but from the 
Artificer, who did frame it in fuch fort as 
it may work and do fomewhat. But with- 



To the Faithful Soul. 263 

out an Artificer, or one to work with it, it 
lieth ftill unprofitable, and ferveth to no 
purpofe. 

14. In like fort muft he think of himfelf 
who defireth to be my fon and to imitate 
my humility, and will undertake to follow 
this rule of life ; he muft confider of his 
own eftate, how full he is of miferies, 
defefts, fins, and infirmities. Moreover, he 
ought to look into every man, and refpeft 
thofe things only in them wherein I have 
adorned them with any grace and virtue, 
that he may be brought by this confidera- 
tion to acknowledge himfelf always in- 
ferior unto them all. And let him not 
challenge or afcribe any thing unto himfelf 
for thofe virtues, operations, and good gifts, 
which I beftow upon him ; but let him 
make no other account of them than if 
they were in another, and let him give the 
praife and glory of them all unto me 
wholly, without challenging of any thing 
to himfelf thereby. 

15. And therefore thou which defireft to 
be a follower of this rule muft have great 
care of thyfelf, and thou muft fo diligently 



264 An Epijile of yefiis Chriji 

look into thine own behaviour, and be fo 
watchful in all thy a6lions, as thou neither 
mayeft feek any thing, nor bend thyfelf to 
defire or follow any thing befides me ; that 
is, thou muft defire nothing but my glory, 
and the fulfilling of my pleafure only. 
Wherefore, in what thing foever thou findeft 
thyfelf to bear rule, that is, in what thing 
foever thou feekeft to pleafe thyfelf, or 
findeft felf-love to reign in thee, there thou 
muft renounce thyfelf, and omit wholly the 
doing of that thing (if thou haft no lawful 
impediment to the contrary) feeing by it 
thou didft not feek to pleafe me w^ith a 
pure intention. 

16. Thou muft complain to no man of 
thofe croffes which thou fuffereft, except it 
. be to have counfel at their hands ; for thou 
oughteft to receive all things thankfully 
which I fend thee, and to refer all things 
unto me. Therefore, howfoever the ftorms 
of affliftion fhall violently affail thee, or in 
what fort foever adverfity fhall chance to 
overwhelm thee, have thou a mind ever 
ready to endure all patiently, being wholly 
fubjefl to me, and for me to all creatures. 



To the Faithful Soul. 265 

Endeavour with violence to reprefs thefe 
motions which rife up againft thee, and 
labour clean to forfake thyfelf, and be not 
moved with any paffion againft men, neither 
yet contend, difpute, or refift them. 

17. Seek not, moreover, means to avoid 
affliftions, nor to deliver thyfelf from them, 
but be content to receive all things with 
filence, in peace and tranquillity, and with 
an indifferent mind, as willing to receive 
adverfity as profperity at my hands. And 
be content to bear them with all quietnefs 
in thy foul, as long as it fhall be my plea- 
fure. And when thou art in adverfity, do 
not feek with a deliberate intention, that is, 
of fet purpofe, for any confolation, though 
it be never fo little, but commit all things 
unto me, and patiently expe6l the event, 
and end of all things from my hands. 

18. Thou muft confefs thy fms facra- 
mentally to a Prieft every week no lefs 
than once, but thou muft do it to me every 
day in prayer, and that very often, with the 
forrow of thy heart, and with an humble 
accufation of thyfelf for thy manifold 
offences ; and thou muft offer thyfelf unto 



266 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

me ready in all things to fet forth my glory, 
and to fulfil my pleafure. 

19. Thou muft receive alfo the Sacra- 
ment of my Bleffed Body every month, 
once at the leaft, if thou canfb not every 
week once or twice, and thou muft not 
omit to make thofe curtfies which I fet 
down in the former rule in the veneration 
of my glorious Sacrament, and in the 
memory of my death. If thou fhalt fail in 
any of thefe things heretofore recited, thou 
fhalt not thereby be guilty of a new fault 
by undertaking the performance of this 
rule, neither ftialt thou offend more by the 
means of it, than another which liveth 
without this rule and fraternity ; but for 
every tranfgreffion which thou makeft by 
being overcome with thine own inconftancy, 
do not ceafe altogether from following this 
good purpofe of thine, but enjoin thyfelf 
for thy penance and punifhment to fay one 
Ave MariUy or fome greater penance, as 
thou ftialt think convenient. Thou muft 
fay every night, notwithftanding, three Ave 
Marias before my moft holy and glorious 
Mother. One for thofe negligences which 



To the Faithful Soul. 267 

thou haft ignorantly committed, and which 
thou doft not remember. Another, to en- 
treat me by her interceffion for the amend- 
ment of thy Hfe, perfeverance in virtue, and 
obtaining of my grace. The third, that the 
worfhipping and honouring of me may be 
daily amphfied, enlarged, augmented, and 
increafed, either by this rule or by what 
other means foever that fliall feem beft 
unto me. 

20. Ufe fuch fpiritual exercifes as are 
moft agreeable to thy devotion, ftate, and 
nature, wherein thou mayeft fpend thy time 
profitably, and be lifted by them in thy 
heart unto me, increafing daily in goodnefs, 
and enforcing thyfelf from time to time to 
do better and better. He that will under- 
take to follow this fraternity or rule, and 
govern himfelf according to the prefcript 
order thereof, let him kneel before the 
image of me crucified, if he be alone or 
had rather be fecret by himfelf, and let him 
earneftly entreat me that I will vouchfafe 
to receive him for my difciple, that I will 
pour my grace upon him, and both 
ftrengthen and confirm this good will in 



268 An Epijlle of J ejus Chrijl 

him fo fully, as he may refolve conftantly, 
and unremovably, to live according to thefe 
rules and direftions. Let him alfo teach 
others, and gain fouls unto me, and bring 
them unto my fervice. But if there be 
many that undertake to follow thefe rules, 
they may exhort one another in me, and 
may be united in brotherly charity, by the 
means of the likenefs and unity they have 
in their courfe of life, in that they all do 
follow this fraternity. And let them not 
receive every rnan at all adventures into 
their fociety, efpecially fuch as there is no 
hope of the conftancy of their mind, and 
perfeverance of devotion, left that their 
lightnefs and inftability, which do not en- 
deavour to attain to the perfe6lion of that 
courfe they have undertaken, may difcou- 
rage others in their good purpofe, and make 
them give over their holy intention. 



To the Faithful SouL 269 



Verses for Helping 

A Man's Memory, wherein are expreffed 
the Principal and Mojl Special Points 
of thofe Good Leffons which are compre- 
hended in thefe Rules, 

Have fpecial care to rule thy tongue ; 

Forbear to pleafe thy carnal will ; 

Do good to all, while time thou haft, 

And what thou art remember ftill. 

Forfake thyfelf, it is not much, 

Chrift took for thee much greater pain ; 

Be meek in mind, that thou with Him 
In endlefs glory may'fb remain. 

Y the rule of thy tongue is un- 
derfhood, that thou muft refrain 
from all idle, back-biting, con- 
tentious and quarrelling words, 
and from all complaining fpeeches. By for- 
bearing to pleafe thy will, is meant that 
thou muft wean thyfelf from the defire of 
all vain pleafures, tranfitory things, and 
earthly delights, and that thou muft mortify 
all thy fenfes. By doing good to every 
man, thou art exhorted to perform all the 




270 An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

works of mercy and charity towards thy 
neighbours. And in that thou art willed 
to remember what thou art, it is to make 
thee know thyfelf, and to humble thee, be- 
caufe if thou look into thine own ability, 
thou fhalt plainly find that thou art merely 
nothing of thyfelf, nor yet able by thyfelf 
to do anything at all. 

By forfaking of thyfelf is meant, that 
thou muft renounce thine own will, deny 
thine own felf, and feek to pleafe God only, 
and wholly with a pure intention. Laftly, 
thou art exhorted to be meek in mind, 
whereby is fignified that thou muft ufe all 
meeknefs, courtefy, and benignity towards 
thy neighbours, and thou muft ever retain 
all peace, quietnefs, and tranquillity in thy 
foul, patiently expefting the pleafure of 
Almighty God and accepting always in the 
beft part of His providence, whatfoever it 
Ihall be His will to fend thee. 

Christo Laudes et Sanct^ Matri 
Ejus Honor. Amen. 



To the Faithful Soul. 271 



A VERY Short Exercise of Love 
TO God. 

The Father, God the Son, a7id God the Holy 
Ghojl, tlu Mojl Bleffed Trinity, and 07te 
true God, wherewith a Man ought once 
every day to offer himfelf with his whole 
Soul u7ito his Divine Majejly, and to give 
Hifn "jnojl humble Thanks for all the Bene- 
fits which he hath received at His moJl 
gracious Jtands, 

LORD, my God, who art infinite 
goodnefs itfelf, and both un- 
changeable and unfpotted ac- 
cording to all perfeftions which 
I can conceive of Thee, always remaining 
the very same that Thou wert from the be- 
ginning. Thou madeft every creature for 
Thy glory. Thou doft preferve and govern 
them with fuch wifdom that, being fo 
many, so great, and fo divers as they are, 
there is none which doth withdraw himfelf 




272 An Epijlle of Jefus Chri/i 

from being under Thy fubjeftion, and yet 
thou doft neither dig nor labour, but al- 
ways remaineft in moft bleffed quiet. Thou 
haft created me according to Thine own 
image and likenefs, and doft preferve me 
in that being which I am. Thou haft re- 
deemed me of moft pure charity by the 
death of Thy moft Bleffed Son, and in moft 
painful and troublefome manner, that Thou 
mighteft fhew unto me the riches of Thy 
grace, the bounty of Thy mercy, and the 
exceedingnefs of Thy love towards me. 
Thou haft made me to come in a noble fort 
to the acknowledging of Thy moft holy 
name. Thou haft brought me to that moft 
Holy Religion, and Thou haft raifed me to 
fo high a dignity. Thou haft directed me 
always in Thine own prefence, and haft car- 
ried a fpecial regard towards me, and Thou 
haft made me to find favour in the eyes of 
Thy fervants, that they might take care of 
my falvation. 

2. Thou haft delivered me alfo from 
many dangers and tribulations, both of 
body and foul, from infirmities, from fick- 
neffes, from beggary, from fallings head- 



To the Faithful Soul. 273 

long, from fundry perils, from wicked men, 
from drowning, and from infinite other 
mifchiefs which might have happened to 
me as well as to others, if Thy love and 
mercy had not delivered me from them. 
Thou haft alfo moft often delivered me 
from fin, from falling into the gulf of fin- 
ners, from being devoured by them, and 
from eternal damnation. Thou haft, more- 
over, given me a firm confidence to believe 
that Thou haft chofen me to eternal happi- 
nefs, wherein Thou wilt manifeft Thine own 
felf unto me. Oh, I ftiall then plainly 
know and fee Thee, my Lord and God ; I 
fliall love Thee perfe6lly and moft purely ; I 
ftiall find moft bleffed peace in enjoying 
Thee only ; and I fhall always moft fincerely 
praife and glorify Thee with all Thy Saints. 
O merciful God, confirm this, and perform 
this quickly in me. O Lord, my God, for 
all the benefits that Thou haft wrought, and 
fhall work in me, and in every one of Thy 
creatures, be all honour, glory, thanks, duti- 
ful fervice, hearty afife6lion, chafte fear, and 
fincere love to Thy Divine Majefty, world 
without end, Amen, 

T 



2 74 ^^ Epijile of J ejus Chriji 

3. O merciful God, make me thankful, 
and pardon me, I befeech Thee moft gra- 
cioufly,for all thofe abominable ingratitudes, 
intolerable negligences, and innumerable 
fms, which I have committed againft Thee, 
(and if thou haft communicated thou mayeft 
add to this and fay,) for Thine own fake, 
and by the virtue of Thy Bleffed Sacrament 
which I have received, root out of my heart 
all malice, grant me an humble confeffion, 
a hearty forrow, a difcreet abhorring, a zea- 
lous forfaking and a neceffary deteftation of 
all my fms, and both true repentance and 
a perfeft amendment in this life. Grant, 
alfo, that I may never again offend Thee, for 
Thine unfpeakable mercy and infinite good- 
nefs, and make me to love with all the 
affeftion that it is poffible for me Thy moft 
fweet friendfhip, and Thy moft precious 
grace ; excite me mioft earneftly to defire it, 
and quickly to find it, with perfeverance 
therein even to the end. O merciful God, 
grant that I may not negleft this goodnefs 
and long-fuffering of Thine. Strengthen 
me always, both in foul and body, to do Thee 
fervice, and grant me Thy grace that I may 



To the Faithful Soul, 275 

foberly ufe Thy creatures, to the glory and 
praife of Thy name. 

4. I give Thee thanks, O Lord Jefu, and 
Thee, O Holy Ghoft, being equal with the 
eternal Father, which wert content, for my 
falvation, to be conceived of the fame 
Holy Ghoft, and to be born of the moft 
pure Virgin Mary, and to be made man. 
What do I owe Thee, and how much am I 
bound unto Thee, O Lord Jefu } O God, 
who wert man ; O man, who wert God ; 
O Meffias ; O Chrift, the anointed of our 
Lord ; O Emmanuel ; O God with us ; O 
Lord of exceeding Majefty, and moft con- 
ftant Lover of men, how wert Thou made a 
mortal man, fubje6l to a mortal life, to 
fheddings of Thy blood, to perfecutions, to 
forrow, to pains, and chiefly to the tor- 
ments of the Crofs, when Thou wert made 
poor and miferable, and moft vile and con- 
temptible in the fight of all men ! What 
fhall I render unto Thee, O fweet Lover, 
for that moft bitter death which Thou fuf- 
feredft for me, and for that unfpeakable 
charity which Thou fhewedft tow^ards me .^ 
5. I befeech Thee, O Lord Jefus, by Thy 



276 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

Incarnation, by Thy remaining in the Vir- 
gin's womb ; by the joy of Thy foul, at the 
grace of Thine union, when Thy divinity 
and humanity were joined in one; by Thy 
Nativity in winter-time, by the pain of Thy 
Circumcifion, by the veneration wherewith 
the Sages did adore Thee, by Thy prefenta- 
tion in the temple, by Thy flight into 
Egypty by Thy banifhment there, by Thy 
fearful return again into Thine own country ; 
by Thy fubje6lion, obedience, and moft 
virtuous life; by the penance which Thou 
didft for our fms ; by Thy baptifm, fafting, 
and temptation in the wildernefs ; by Thy 
penury, poverty, and neceffity which Thou 
enduredft in this mortal life; by all the 
troubles which Thou feltft; by Thy moft 
gracious virtues, and glorious life; by that 
ingratitude which Thou didfl endure at the 
Jews' hands, when they would have thrown 
Thee down headlong from the top of the 
hill ; when they fought traitoroufly to entrap 
Thee in Thy words and deeds, and when 
they did devife how to ftone Thee with 
their violent hands. 

6. I befeech Thee, alfo, by Thy modefty, 



To the Faithful Soul. 277 

humility, patience, meeknefs, and all the 
other virtues; by the humiliation of Thyfelf 
at Thy difciples' feet, when Thou wafhedft 
them ; by the inftitution of the moft Bleffed 
Sacrament of Thy precious Body, and by 
the moft delightful tafte and unfpeakable 
fweetnefs thereof; by Thy fadnefs, agony, 
and bloody fweat which Thou didft endure, 
when Thou prayedft in the garden ; by Thy 
being forfaken of Thy difciples and all 
men ; by Thy being betrayed by Thy own 
fervant; by the bands, reproaches, injuries, 
buffets, blows, fpitting upon, and blafphe- 
mies which Thou didfb fufifer ; by the falfe 
accufation and unjuft condemnation which 
Thou receivedft ; by Thy grief for wS. Peter's 
denying Thee, Judas betraying Thee, and 
the other difciples forfaking Thee ; by Thy 
being led unto divers Judges, to receive the 
fentence of death ; by the mockery, naked- 
nefs, fcourging of Thy body, crowning of 
Thy head, and vexing of Thy innocent foul ; 
by Thy being reje6led when Barabbas was 
accepted; by the unjuft fentence of the 
Judge ; by Thy being led with thieves ; by 
the carrying of Thy Crofs ; by the mockery 



2"]"^ An Epijile of Jefus Chrijl 

of Thy adverfaries, and by the fhameful- 
nefs of Thy death; by the lamentation 
which devout perfons, but chiefly Thy Mo- 
ther, made for Thee ; by the toil and weari- 
nefs which Thou fuftained; by the bitter 
drink which Thou tafted ; by the plucking 
of Thy flefh, with the plucking of Thy 
garments, which Thou endured ; by Thy 
being ftretched out on the Crofs; by the 
nailing of Thee to the Crofs, and the tor- 
ments which Thou there received ; by thofe 
bleffed tears which Thou didft fhed; by 
thofe intolerable injuries which Thou didft 
patiently bear; by Thy moft holy prayer; 
by the commiferation which Thou tookeft 
of the thief that faid, '' Lord, remember 
me when Thou comejl into Thy kingdom!' 

7. By the compaffion of Thy Mother, by 
Thy crying Thou wert forfaken, by Thy 
drinking of vinegar and gall, by Thy fay- 
ing all was finifhed, by Thy moft cruel 
death, by Thy unfpeakable charity where- 
with Thou fufiferedft it ; by the piercing of 
Thy fide. Thy Mother looking on; by Thy 
holy burial, by the heavinefs of Thy friends 
for Thy death, by Thy refurreftion, by Thy 



To the Faithful SouL 279 

appearing to them again, by Thy afcenfion, 
by the fending of the Holy Ghoft, by the 
inftitution and foundation of Thy Church, 
by the affumption of Thy Mother, by the 
glorification of Thy Saints, by Thy laft 
judgment, and by the eternal falvation 
which Thou wilt grant to Thy fervants' 
fouls and bodies. Thou didfh rife again 
from death triumphantly, Thou didft ap- 
pear to Thy Difciples glorioufiy. Thou didft 
rejoice their hearts wonderfully, Thou didft 
afcend up into heaven in their fight mira- 
culoufly. Thou didft fend the Holy Ghoft to 
dire6l Thy Church, Thou didft gather up 
Thy fervants unto Thee, Thou didft affume 
Thy bleffed Mother to Thy eternal king- 
dom. Thou fhalt come to judge the quick 
and the dead. Thou fhalt reign with all 
Thy Saints world without end ; and let me 
remain with Thee, O fweet Jefu. 

8. What fhall I render unto Thee, O 
gracious Lover, for that moft bitter death 
which Thou fufferedft for me, and for that 
unfpeakable charity which Thou fhewedft 
towards me ? O good Jefus, make me, I 
befeech Thee, partaker of all Thy merits 



28o An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

and mercies, make me thankful for them, 
and in recompenfe of them to love Thee 
again who loved me fo much, and even to 
be ready to die for Thy love. Pardon me 
for all mine unworthinefs, all my vilenefs, 
all my undutifulness, and all my negli- 
gences, wherein I have offended Thee; teach 
me true wifdom, that Thou only mayeft be 
wifdom unto me, and all other things what- 
foever foolifhnefs. Grant that I may never 
ufe any kind of concupifcence. Grant me 
true knowledge, pure intentions, holy pur- 
pofes, and perfe6l difcretion in my con- 
fcience, and in Thy holy fervice. Make 
me ftout and forward to Ihew myfelf fuch 
an one in the fight of Thy glorious Majefty 
as becometh me. Encourage me and 
ftrengthen me againft all faintnefs of heart, 
errors, fcrupulofities, fancies, and fuch like. 
9. Open myunderftanding in judging truly 
of the Scriptures, and conceiving rightly of 
Thy good pleafure, that I may know what 
is acceptable in Thy fight, and when I do 
know it, grant that I may both love and 
perform it. Deliver me from taking any 
care for other men's caufes, or bufying my- 



To the Faithful Soul. 281 

felf with other men's matters, that by this 
means I may more wholly pleafe Thee, 
and more perfe6lly, fafely, and quickly 
come unto Thee. And if it fhall pleafe 
Thy moft excellent Majefty to work this 
in me, Thy will be done ; and help me, I 
befeech Thee, that I may be a profitable 
member in all Offices touching Thy Ser- 
vice, and negle6l nothing that may exprefs 
my duty towards Thee. Make me like 
unto Thee both in life and manners. Grant 
me modefty, humility, obedience, patience, 
and whatfoever elfe is neceffary for my 
vocation. 

10. O moft gracious and loving Lord, 
quicken me and revive me with Thy grace, 
feparate me wholly from all evil, and con- 
vert me altogether unto Thyfelf, and grant 
that I may hate that which Thou hateft, 
and love that which Thou loveft. Pvlake 
me to increafe continually and abundantly 
in all virtues. Strengthen me and confirm 
me in Thy Catholic Faith, truly underftood. 
Increafe faith in me, fettle and fortify in 
me an affured hope, grant me always to 
conceive rightly of Thee, and to rely wholly 



282 An Epijlle of Jefus Chrijl 

upon Thee. Give me a firm confidence in 
Thee and that I may worfhip Thee de- 
voutly, honour Thee chaftely, and love Thee 
perfe6lly with a fimple heart, a pure foul, 
a quiet mind, and a fafe confcience. Grant 
that Thou only mayeft content me, that 
Thou only mayeft delight me, and that 
Thou only mayeft poffefs me; and that I 
may defire Thee only, love Thee only, and 
ftudy how to pleafe Thee only. Make me 
that I may never be feparated from Thee, 
that I may labour earneftly to come unto 
Thee, find peace in Thee alone, and quickly 
come unto Thee. Let all inordinate love 
be clean mortified in me, and remove all 
other impediments from me that may hin- 
der me to come unto Thee, who art only 
to be defired, and only to be beloved. 

II. I do confefs Thee, O Lord my God, 
three perfons, the Father, the Son, and the 
Holy Ghoft ; and I do adore and worfhip 
Thee, One true God, as Thou art in 
Thyfelf, fubmitting and fubjefting myfelf 
wholly and irrevocably to Thy moft glori- 
ous Majefty, as all creatures are bound to 
do, lying proftrate at Thy feet to yield 



To the Faitkfocl SotcL 28 



o 



themfelves in everything unto Thee, readily 
with all good will, perfectly with all obe- 
dience, and truly with all fincerity. 

12. Forgive me, O moft merciful God, 
that I have not carried that afife6lion to- 
wards thee which I ought, and grant me 
Thy grace, that I may worfhip Thee, 
reverence and love Thee in truth, and in 
fuch perfe6lion as I am bound. 

Chrijlo Laiides et Sanfta Matri 
Ejus Honor, Ame7i, 



THE END. 



LONDON : 

PRINTED BY J. OGDEN AND CO. 

172, ST. JOHN STREET, E.G. 



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